Lois Dean Johnston Widener

Lois Dean Johnston-Widener of Kansas City, MO died on Thursday, June 6, 2024 at CedarHurst Memory Care of Blue Springs, MO at the age of 85. Lois was born on February 13, 1939 in Montrose, MO and was the daughter to Fred William Johnston and Mable Isabell Lobaugh-Johnston.

Lois grew up on a farm with her brother William. Her father was a farmer and her mother was a schoolteacher. This started her love for animals. There were not any girls to play with, but she loved playing cowboys and Indians with her older brother and the neighborhood boys. The boys were not crazy about having to play with a girl and would run and hide from her, but she would always find them.

Lois graduated from Ballard High School, Class of 1957. After graduating high school she moved to Kansas City at the age of 18 and got her own apartment. Her first job was at Hallmark Cards. She later met her future husband on a blind date. They married on February 26, 1971 and moved into the house they would both spend their lives in. Lois got pregnant and had a baby girl, Kelli Lyn Widener-Packard. Lois quit her job at Hallmark Cards after 15 years to be a stay at home mom. She helped raise her brother William’s newborn baby, Billie Jo Johnston-Huff after her mother, Bonnie Colette Clyde-Johnston passed away in child birth for about 18 months. She found herself a new mother to 2 baby girls that were 3 months a part till her brother remarried again. Lois’ father moved in with them after he was no longer able to live on his own because of dementia. Jamie too got sick with cancer and died at the age of 54. Jamie was the oldest of 10 siblings.

Lois worked at Child World School for behavioral children for over 20 years before they closed the doors. She worked for several different school bus companies as a bus monitor for over 20 years as well. She was forced to retire a few years before she turned 80 due to her bad knees. She would end up with 2 knee replacements. Her mobility only improved a short while before it started declining again and limiting her ability to get around.

After Lois retired, she continued to enjoy mowing her own grass, walking her dog Rocky 2-3 times a day, lunches and shopping with her friends she used to work with, and just sitting on her front porch and visiting with her neighbors. When it was cold and she could not go outside, she enjoyed her word search books, reading before bedtime, and watching her westerns on tv. Gun Smoke was her all-time favorite. Matt Dillon was her man as she would say. Lois

continued to live on her own till the age of 84 when she had an accidental fall and progressing dementia forced her to go into Memory Care.

Mom’s favorite memory as a kid was when her dad would take her to the Urich Reunion and buy her a balloon for $.10 and an ice cream cone. Her love for balloons continued as an adult. The simple things made her happy. In lieu of flowers, we would ask for balloons that will be released after the burial in her memory.

Visitation will be held at Chapel Hills Funeral Home 701 N. 94th St. Kansas City, KS 66112 on Wednesday, June 12th from 1:00-2:00 pm followed by her funeral at 2:00 pm. With the burial directly afterwards at Chapel Hills Memorial Gardens.

Serving as Pallbearers are John E Packard III, Jack Huff, Paul Dame, Briar Packard, Jakson Kittleson and Chance Huff.

She is preceded in death by her parents, brother William Irwin Johnston, sister in law Bonnie Colette Clyde-Johnston, husband Jamie Lee Widener, mother in law Ruby Francis Widener, and father in law Jamie B Widener.

Lois is survived by her children: Kelli Lyn Widener-Packard(John E Packard III), Beth Ann Johnston-Hassler(Dan Kluba)- Niece/daughter, Billie Jo Johnston-Huff(Jack R Huff)- Niece/daughter. Her Grandchildren: Nichole Marshall-Utt(Sterling Utt), Shelby Packard, Briar Packard(Khwanta Burns) and

Brittany Packard-Kittleson(Jakson Kittleson). And her Great Grandchildren: Allison White, Kira Moon, Lucas Marshall, Luna Utt, and Elenora Utt, Jodie Mills, Liam Burns, Adaline Burns, and Charlie Packard

Special thank you to the CedarHurst facility staff and Traditions Hospice staff taking great care of my mother and giving her so much quality at the end of her life.