Joe died peacefully at home on July 21, 2022 following a long journey with Dementia. He was born October 25, 1935 in Yoakum, Texas, the only child of Guy and Helen Starkey, originally from Sedalia, MO. Each summer the family returned to Sedalia where Joe worked with his Uncle Everett and Cousin Wanda as food vendors at the Missouri State Fair. Joe and Wanda always managed to find or create some kind of trouble during these visits, and those tendencies continued for many years to come.
The Starkey family moved to Oklahoma City in 1943 and then to Twin Falls, ID in 1948, where Joe was a proud member of the iconic Class of 1953. Many of Joe’s best stories and biggest sources of laughter came from his high school experiences in sports, theater, and running around Twin Falls with a grand group of friends. Joe wanted to play professional baseball but was told by the scouts to get into another line of work so he attended the University of Missouri - Columbia and earned a law degree. In Columbia Joe made wonderful long-time friends and fabulous memories while working as a busboy at Stephens College.
Joe served six years in the US Army Reserves and in 1960 went to work in the Trust Department of Wells Fargo Bank in San Francisco, CA. At the bank he met Sonja McFadden of Topeka, KS. They were married August 29, 1964 and welcomed their son, Scott, the following year. In 1969 the family moved to Kansas City, MO where Joe took a position in the Trust Department of Mercantile Bank. Soon after, their daughter Jocelyn, was born. Joe retired from the bank in 1990 and spent 7 years with the US Treasury Department. His years at Mercantile produced more enduring memories and friendships which lasted a lifetime.
Joe was an avid sports fan, coached 3&2 baseball, and played golf, including one hole-in-one. He also appreciated a good gin cocktail, and dining out with friends and family. Joe enjoyed old movies, old songs, old friends, and he loved his family immensely.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his dear wife Sonja, and his cousin Wanda White Whitington (Bill), who was like a sister to him. He is survived by his son, Scott Starkey, and his daughter, Jocelyn Starkey Rowan (Joe), all of Kansas City; his daughter-in-law, Lara Shaughnessy of Lexington, KY; his grandchildren Tim Dickson (Christina) of Kansas City, Susannah Starkey and Graham Starkey of Lexington, KY, Nicoleta Rowan of Boise, ID and Andrew Rowan of Kansas City, MO; and Wanda’s daughter Patti Jo Whitington-Burton (Jeff). Also surviving are his sister-in-law, Sara McFadden Gartner and her husband Phil of Benton, Louisiana; his nieces and nephews, and his cherished companion, Wendi Nielsen, with whom he shared love, laughter and many wonderful adventures later in life.
The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to Nathalie Eamiguel for her compassionate and respectful care of Dad over the last 19 months, and to Appl Orchard Hospice for their attentive care over all of us as Dad neared the end of life.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Special Olympics Missouri, Veterans of Foreign Wars, or the Home Health/Hospice Organization of your choice. Norris Joe Starkey, age 86, of Kansas City, Missouri passed away on Thursday, July 21, 2022. Norris was born October 25, 1935.
