Lisa Ellen Blackwell

Lisa Ellen Blackwell, 43, Lenexa, Kan., passed away surrounded by family at Shawnee Mission Medical Center on Monday, October 28, 2013. Lisa was born in Kansas City, Mo., and was a lifelong resident of Lenexa. She graduated from Shawnee Mission West High School in the class of 1988, and attended Johnson County Community College.

Lisa's many great passions in life included her love of children. She spent the majority of her professional life working as a teacher, and then later the director of, St. Agnes Childcare in Roeland Park, Kan., which she left in 2001. She worked as a nanny for several years before recently starting a home-based business selling custom gift baskets with vintage items.

Lisa was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents: Albert and June Patejdl; and her paternal grandparents: Lloyd and Cynthia Blackwell. She is survived by her parents, James and Laura Blackwell, Lenexa, Kan.; her brother and sister-in-law, Evan and Nicole Blackwell, Olathe, Kan.; and her nephew Drew Blackwell, Olathe, Kan. She is also survived by several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Visitation will be from 2:00-3:00 p.m. followed by memorial service at 3:00 p.m. Friday, November 1, at Mount Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Mo. Memorial contributions may be made to The Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, 5445 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, KS 66104 and/or Visiting Nurse Association of Kansas City, 1500 Meadow Lake Parkway, Kansas City, MO 64114.