Patricia Eleanor Kieffer

Patricia Eleanor Kieffer, 78, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, passed away October 31, 2016. Visitation will be from 5:30-8:30 p.m., Rosary at 6:00 p.m., Friday, November 4, at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri. Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 5, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 1800 SW State Route 150, Lee’s Summit, Missouri 64082.

Pat was the second of the five children (Ed Jr., Pat, Gene, Anita and Chuck) of Pauline and Ed Billings.

Her mother, Pauline was from Kansas City and her father, Ed, was from Omaha. They met at a dance where Ed was playing drums with the band. Her father took a job with KCP&L, which became a career, and continued playing drums with a local band. Initially her mother was a stay-at-home wife and mother then eventually took a job at Macy’s. Pat became her right hand in helping out with fixing meals, housework and watching over Anita and Chuck. Her father had a very pleasant, low key personality. He had a genuine concern for his family, and people in general, that came through when you were with him. Her mother was very family and faith oriented.

Pat grew up at 23rd and Monroe in Kansas City. On that block, her grandfather Moses Gadwood, built a small apartment building and four houses in which several of his children’s families lived. At one time, there were 13 Gadwood grandchildren (first cousins and/or siblings) living on the same block. The children of Pauline and her brother, Buster, were close in age and were almost like brothers and sisters.

During Pat’s junior year in high school the family moved to 63rd and Oak. Pat was still helping with household activities and continued working Thursday nights at Macy’s downtown. After graduating from Lillis High School she worked briefly for Royal Typewriter then became a secretary at The Home Builders Association.

In 1959, at the age of 21 she married George Kieffer. George came home from active duty in the Navy in August 1956. He was attending college and met Pat in March 1957. Pat was working at The Home Builders Association. They dated on and off for a year and a half, began going steady, got engaged in the spring of 1959, and married on October 3rd, 1959.

Pat continued working at Home Builders until their daughter, Dana, was born in August 1961. Then Pat became a full-time homemaker.

Due to the nature of George’s career, Pat was often required to do double duty in raising the children. Pat accepted the extra responsibility and did a terrific job. Growing up, the kids all fully participated in sports, Scouts, family functions and school activities. She supported and cultivated their individual interests; sewing for Dana, dolphins for George and dinosaurs for Steve. She taught them all to play the piano. She was a mother, homemaker, chauffeur, Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout Den mother, tutor and coach. She played excellent tennis. She refereed grade school, high school and college volleyball games.

The family took at least one vacation every year, sometimes more. Most of them were planned and organized by Pat. The family went everywhere from Expo 67 in Montreal, to Disneyland, DisneyWorld, Tijuana, the Bahamas, Oklahoma resorts, hiking and skiing in Colorado, New York, Washington DC, Key West, San Francisco and many more places. She wanted her children to see many places and try many things.

After raising her children, Pat began a new career as a legal secretary, then joined her daughter and son-in-law, Dana and Tom Atkins, in opening a group of video stores. Videorama owned and operated five stores in the Kansas City market.

Pat went from being super mom to super grandmother and great-grandmother. She treasured every moment she was able to spend with her family. She is survived by her husband George Kieffer, children Dana and husband Tom Atkins, Stephen Kieffer and George A. Kieffer, grandchildren Amarysta (Brian) Nance, Jarett (Jeanette) Atkins, Randi Rae Atkins of Los Angeles, Simon Kieffer of Curacao, Netherlands, Antilles, great-grandchildren Connor Nance, Margaret Rose Nance, sisters-in-law Dorothy Billings, Anne Billings and Donna (Greg) DesMarteau, brothers-in-law Wayne Kieffer of Seattle and Keith (Janet) Kieffer of Atlanta, extended family and friends.

Arrangements under the direction of Mt Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, Kansas City, MO.