Inez Lorraine Johnson

Inez Lorraine Johnson, 103 years old, of Oak Grove, Missouri passed away on May 12, 2024. Inez was born on October 3, 1920 in Trenton, Missouri to Lester Ray and Nellie Mae (Hawver) Kackley. Inez had three siblings, Dale Kackley, Ileen Oyler, and Donald Kackley, all of whom have preceded her in death.

Inez attended school in Independence, Missouri, graduating from Northeast High School in 1937. She went on to complete an Associate’s Degree in Business Education from their Junior College facility. Then she held several secretarial jobs in the Kansas City area. While working at the Nash Automobile Company a customer once pulled a gun on her when he did not agree with his invoice.

Inez married Orval Johnson on March 15, 1943 at her parent’s home in Independence, Missouri while he was home on leave from World War II. After the war they lived in Chicago, while Orval attended the Northern Illinois College of Optometry and then settled in Kansas City, Missouri where they started a family. Orval and Inez were married for 72 years until he passed in 2015.

Their marriage was blessed with two children, Mark and Anita. Inez did not “work” outside the home while her children were young, but she was most active in their lives through church, PTA, and their extracurricular activities. In 1969, Orval and Inez purchased a farm in Oak Grove, Missouri. Inez loved gardening and canning and they maintained a large garden for many years.

When Mark and Anita were in high school, Inez went to work outside of the home. First for a temporary agency and soon landed a permanent job with the First National Bank of Kansas City, which turned into a successful long term career where her organizational and administrative skills were valued and she developed many friendships that lasted beyond her retirement.

Inez’s retirement years were full of family, friends and travel. She enjoyed time with her four granddaughters and later added 5 great grandchildren to her family tree. Inez was famous for her homemade pies, mostly for her fruit pies. During her retirement, she and Orval increased their community and church involvement, forming new friendships and remaining very active. It was during this time, that Orval and Inez became “world” travelers from Egypt to Greece and from Russia to New Zealand, and from Fiji to Portugal and many places in-between. Sometimes they would travel alone, but most enjoyed trips when taken with family or friends.

Inez is survived by her son, Mark Johnson, and daughter Anita Costanza (John), grandchildren Heather Johnson, Melissa Johnson, Kara Brock (Rollie), and Kaylee Costanza-Emerson (Adam). Also survived by great grandchildren Nathaniel Robinson, Ava Marie Johnson, Koldyn Costanza, Rowan Brock, and Bowie Brock.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Oak Grove Christian Church or your favorite charity. The following link provides a searchable resource for charities across the Kansas City region.

https://www.growyourgiving.org/nonprofit-search