She was born to Charles (departed) and Bettie Ray, on June 2, 1955, in Kansas City, MO at Trinity Lutheran Hospital. Brenda attended Ruskin High School; class of 1973. She was married to the late Richard Sewell.
Brenda Sewell was a beloved daughter, sister, mother, aunt, wife, grandmother and friend who was taken sooner than anyone believed possible. Family and friends were Brenda’s passion and delight; she was the rock that everyone could always rely on. One of her biggest attributions is the way she gave to anyone in need no matter the reason. These passions lead her to the giving act of donating to numerous charities anywhere from helping animals to helping children in need. Later in life she became extremely involved in reconnecting with her graduating class and in an all girls group named “Chickas” that is highly involved in a variety of charity work. Brenda loved to travel and took any chance she had to see the world. She traveled to Hawaii most often of all to visit with her lifelong best friend Ann Strauss.
In her early twenties Brenda pursued the field of beauty, she received her Beauticians License from The Grandview School of Cosmetology. Even though she worked as a hair dresser for only a few years she continued to use her skills that she learned for the rest of her years. Brenda was wonderful and influential at anything and everything she decided to put her mind to. As a teacher’s aide in the Hickman Mills School District she absolutely poured her whole heart into working with her students, always advocating for what the children might need to make the most of their days in school or donating the items herself to classrooms that did not have what was needed.
Brenda is survived by her mother, Bettie Ray; her siblings Shanett Rhow, Richard Ray, and Joy Ray-Biggs; her son and his wife Aaron and Deirdre Ray, and two grandchildren Alana Ray 8 and Alivia Ray 7; including many beloved family members: Samantha Ray, Clara Bellante, Ryan Biggs, Kyndra Light, Richard Ray, Charles Ray, Debbra Robinson, Robert Miller, Stacy Holloway, Matthew Ray, Dawnne Light and 6 great nephews and 3 great nieces; along with many other friends and family.
Visitation will be at 12 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 1, followed by a Memorial Service at 1 p.m. at Mt. Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131. All friends and family are welcome and appreciated, come celebrate the life of the most giving woman anyone has ever met.
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