Faye Alaine Meek

Faye Alaine was born August 10, 1927 in St James, Missouri. Faye relocated to Kansas City before turning 10 with her mom and dad, William J. and Opal F. Critcher. Faye graduated from Northeast High School in 1945, met Harold R. Meek and married on October 19, 1946. Growing up Faye loved to hang with family and friends especially on her mother’s side that included a total of 15 aunts and uncles.

Faye started her family in 1947 with the birth of her first son, Larry Duane. Next, Pamela Sue was born in 1950, and finally Randy Kurt in 1957. Faye’s life involved multiple roles as a young mother including homemaker, shuffling her kids to games and events, and working multiple part time jobs including waitressing at Winstead’s on the Plaza, all while supporting her husband as he started a new business.

Faye and her family settled in Raytown Missouri where she lived the past 55 years. By the time Faye’s marriage ended in 1973, Larry and Pam had moved out and her life changed as a single parent responsible for raising Randy, she entered the workforce full time, and was a caregiver for her mother Opal for the last 30 years of her life. Faye worked various positions at AllState Insurance Company for more than 20 years.

Faye was also an active member of the American Business Womens Association (ABWA), an organization dedicated to helping women balance the responsibilities of life, personal growth and professional careers. Faye led the Starlight Chapter for 17 years and was elected ABWA’s Woman of the Year in 1993 and 2006. Faye was recognized by ABWA as “….a member who stands out among us. She has quietly and tirelessly juggled her life of work and now retirement, caring for her mother, children, and now grand children…..she is always there to help – to support.”

Faye was also an avid sports fan – first and foremost the biggest supporter of her kids, grandkids. She rarely missed a football, soccer, basketball or baseball game, and if she did she better get a post game report or there was a price to pay. She followed our Royals, Chiefs, and her beloved KU basketball religiously. As for Faye, she was an accomplished bowler active in leagues for more than 30 years.

The past few years, Faye loved nothing more than making the trip north to look after her great granddaughters Carly Sue and Georgia Annette who brought her great joy, laughter, and love.

Faye was preceded in death by her first born, Larry Duane, her father William (Bill) Critcher, her mother Opal “Granny” Critcher, and her many aunts, uncles, and friends. Faye is survived by her daughter Pam, her son Randy, her daughter in law Jamie, her grandchildren Michael, Hadleigh, Payton and Cade, her great granddaughter Carly and Georgia.

Faye (aka mom, grandma, and GMA) will forever be remembered as a kind, loving, compassionate, devoted, caring woman who thrived on helping others, who led by example, who taught all of us through her messages and actions, and who had a major influence on the lives of those closest to her.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Susan B. Komen Foundation, www.komen.org or One Spirit United Methodist Church, 7900 Blue Ridge Blvd, Raytown, MO 64138.