Sue Jarvis

It is with a heavy heart and a tear-stained face that I am sad to say the world lost an amazing woman on Sunday, December 4th. Sue Jarvis lost her battle with living an extraordinary life at the far too young age of 87. Those of you that knew her will understand that when I say she told me that when it was her time, she would lay her head down and go peacefully in her sleep, she of course was right, as always!

Sue was born on November 23rd, 1935, to her loving parents Irene & Harry E. Jarvis who for whatever reason couldn’t decide on a middle name. Her mother was once called to the office of her elementary school because they thought Sue was being stubborn not telling them what it was! And yes, Sue could be stubborn, she was also funny, hard-working, loving, and had an amazing thirst for knowledge that led to her amazing career in education. She was sadly preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Robert and Tom Jarvis, and her much adored niece, Jill Lee Fencl. She also left behind so many that will forever miss her, most notably, her brother, James R. Jarvis, her niece (she adored me too!) Kelly L. Lewis, Jason Lewis, Curt & Angela Fencl, Pat Jarvis, and the grandnephews that were truly her pride and joy, Ian & Adam Fencl, Jacob & Conner Lewis, and Jason & Brandon Jarvis.

Sue began her love of education in her elementary school years attending E.F. Swinney Elementary School in the West Plaza. She proudly graduated from Westport High School and from there she went on to receive her associates degree from Kansas City Junior College. Not nearly done, she headed down to the University of Central Missouri where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education. She enjoyed her time spent with her sorority sisters as a Tri-Sigma which was fitting as their charter message was “Sigma Serves Children”, and she certainly did! Still thirsting for more, she decided to complete her education in Boulder, Colorado with a master’s degree in education from the University of Colorado.

Lucky for us, Sue returned to Kansas City and spent the following 39 years with the Kansas City Missouri School District. She happily taught 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders at Nelson Elementary and James Elementary. I still remember visiting her classroom with my sister and marveling at how much work she put into her classroom to make it educational and inviting for the students lucky enough to be in her class!

Over the years all that love and hard work reaped its own reward as 32 students chose her as their student teacher, most, if not all of them, prior students of hers. This was due to the large part she played as a cooperating teacher from 1965-1995 for graduates from the University of Central Missouri, UMKC, Northwest Missouri State University and Emporia State University. For the years 1965-1968 Sue was a member of the NCTEPS – National Commission on Teacher Education & Professional Standards, working with the National Education Association to empower school support staff and ensure they were fully integrated into the NEA programs. Sue retired from the Kansas City School District in 1995 to pursue what she gleefully described as a life of leisure!

Not one to sit idly by, in 1999 Sue and her high school friend Dorothy Curry co-founded Gordon Parks Elementary School where she served as a board member from 1999-2006 and again from 2011 until her passing. In October of this year the school dedicated a reading nook and posted a plaque celebrating a Legacy of Learning in her honor.

For many years she had enjoyed living close to the Country Club Plaza but decided to make a change and reside at The Gardens in North Kansas City where she became fast friends with several residents. She enjoyed her afternoons reading, playing cards or games, happy hours, and lunching with family or friends. Throughout her life Sue was a voracious reader, which not surprisingly led to being an active member on the Board of the North Kansas City Library.

Some of my fondest memories of my aunt include her choice to finally get her driver’s license at the young age of 39! My neighbor’s mailbox sadly did not recover from that decision! Sue taught so many children, but my sister and I were the luckiest ones. She shared her love of books, baseball (little league and the Royals!), she taught us how to keep score of the games, the old-fashioned way I guess you would say. She surely watched every Chiefs game and was one of their biggest fans. She took us to the fanciest restaurant of our choice on every birthday and any time we came to visit. We would walk from her apartment down to wander the Plaza, looking in all the windows with an ice cream cone in hand. She would take us to the Nelson Art Gallery, and we would stop by Winstead’s and finish off the day with a skyscraper soda just for the fun of it. She took us to the opera and the ballet, sharing her love of the amazing culture that Kansas City offers. She spoiled us with her love and shared that with our boys. She was fiercely independent and unbelievably intelligent, with a wit that kept you smiling! She always told me what her mom had taught her which was, “Getting old ain’t for sissies!”. Somehow, she made it look easy!

Our family is having a private celebration of her extraordinary life as Sue was always up for a party with great company, great food, and plenty to drink! She will forever be missed by the many that were lucky enough to know and love her.

Any memorial contributions or considerations could be shared and appreciated by Gordon Parks Elementary School, Bishop Sullivan Center, or Central Presbyterian Church.

So please raise a glass to Sue Jarvis, she was one of the good ones, forever in our thoughts and prayers...