Victor Ronald DeMayo

Those who knew Vic knew he would live a driven, productive, fun-loving life. As an exceptional athlete at Northeast High School, he was a 3-year all-star on a championship football team, which won him not only respect and friendship from his own school, but from the opposing team as well. He went on to play for Warrensburg before playing semi-pro football for the Kansas City Bigger Jiggers. He would stay in contact with most of these friends for the rest of his life. Around this same time, he was approached to play professional Baseball for the A’s who are now known as the Kansas City Royals. In fact, he hit an out-of-the-park home run out of Municipal Stadium before Kaufman was built. However he turned this down to be able to spend that time with his family, and the wages were much smaller than they are today. Lately, I spoke with a lot of Dad’s friends to gather stories of the “good ‘ol days” and each was promptly followed up with, “Well it’s probably best you don’t share that publicly” which after a good laugh was agreed most stories were not fit for public record. Feel free to discuss all the ornery shenanigans amongst yourselves during the service and know he’s smiling down reliving each telling. He loved his friends.

After high school, he graduated from KC Business College where he met and married Freda Lee, whom he loved dearly. One of their first dates was skipping school to go out on the lake with some friends, and the school found out! However, instead of getting in trouble, the school found out they had already asked permission from Freda’s parents. They were always a great team like that, creating time for fun while going about it the right way. They lived in Independence until they purchased their home at Lake Lotawana where he served on the city board for years. Afterward, they retired to Lakewood. They also purchased a home in Arizona where they spent some time thawing out from the Missouri winters for a few seasons.

In 1972, Vic and Freda along with his brother, Rich and his wife, Janice opened American Marine in Harrisonville; a premiere boat dealership selling and servicing boats and accessories. He also was a founder in the KC Boat Show Company.

Most of all, Vic loved his family. He and Freda had 3 boys Mark, Mitch (David), and Mike. He mentored his boys in all aspects of their lives from athletics to behavior to educating them to be good men. He was a hands-on dad, always teaching, cheering, and picking up the pieces. Each boy had a family; Mark has 2 daughters and 2 stepchildren: Jessica and her husband Alex, Lauren and her husband Brandon, Angie and her husband Sly, Jason and his wife Tricia; Mitch married Lisa; and Mike married Julie and have 6 children: Kaylee, Kenna, Victor, Jack, Abbie, and Anthony. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Vic, being a Christian man, made sure his family was brought up in the church and knew the Lord. We know he is now with Jesus, his mother and father, brother, son, nephew, and friends who made the journey before him. We shall all be united in the Lord’s time. We love you, Dad!

A visitation for Victor will be held Friday, August 2, 2024 from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM at McGilley & Sheil Funeral Home, 11924 East 47th Street, Kansas City, MO 64133. Following the visitation will be a graveside service from 2:00 PM to 2:30 PM at Centerville Cemetery, 5548 W. 1350 Rd., Centerville, KS 66014.