Carol Joan Kennard-Stringer

March 6, 1937 - February 21, 2019

Carol Joan Kennard-Stringer, age 81, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away Thursday, February 21, 2019. She was the middle child of seven born to Edwin Powell Kennard and Mildred Blanche (Iman) Kennard on March 6, 1937, in Pierre, South Dakota. As a child, she spent time in the Morgan County countryside with her sister, Jan, roaming the woods and rescuing wildlife, whether it wanted to be rescued or not. She spent many wonderful hours with her Granddad and Grandma Iman on their small farm. She attended Oak Grove and Versailles grade schools and Versailles High School. She worked at the Versailles theatre and Pat’s Café. She had her daughter, Teresa in 1954 and on November 23, 1955, married Sam N. Stringer. The three celebrated their wedding anniversary every year. In 1956, she gave birth to their son, Danny and in 1960, their daughter, Connie. They lived in many apartments and rentals until they bought their first home in 1967, in the Kansas City Northland. They moved to Gravois Mills in 1995, after both retired, he from Georgia Pacific and she from Furr’s Cafeteria. Their retirement home was full of wildlife that they enjoyed watching and feeding. They fed thousands of oreo cookies to the raccoons prompting them to come to the storm door and rattle it, signaling that they wanted another cookie. Her husband of nearly fifty-five years passed away from kidney cancer in 2010. She moved back to the Northland to be near her children shortly after. Carol was a stay at home mom until 1981, when she went to work at the Forum Cafeteria that would become Furr’s Cafeteria. She was the smiling face that customers expected on the serving line for fourteen years. Carol was a member of St. Raphael’s Catholic Church until it closed and then a member of St. James Catholic Church. She taught preschool CCD classes at St. Raphael’s. Her love of animals never changed. She loved her family, her dogs, all dogs, Hallmark movies, babies, purses, homemade ice cream, Christmas lights, QuikTrip hot dogs and barbeque ribs, not necessarily in that order. She was an avid garage seller and thrifter enjoying countless hours of bargain hunting with her sisters, Pat and Linda. Carol was preceded in death by her parents, sister and brother-in-law, Janice and Alan Kirschke, her husband, Sam and son, Danny, her sister-in-law, Zelma Kennard, her brother-in-law, Tom Daniels, her nephews, Dennis Weymuth and Mike Kirschke and her niece, Brenda Daniels. She is survived by her daughters, Teresa “Terri” Turner (Todd), Connie Kanatzar (Mark) and Nancy Stringer; her sisters, Pat Morrison (Buster) and Linda Daniels; her brothers, Bill Kennard, Bob Kennard (Carol) and Jim Kennard (Donna); her grandchildren, Jason Ross (Janet), Kelley Huonker (Dan Showmaker) and Brooke Turner (Dan Mays); her great-grandchildren; Paige and Taylor Ross and Briley Thompson and by many nephews, nieces and friends. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Monday, February 25th, at the Kidwell-Garber Funeral Home in Versailles. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 26th, at the funeral home with her grandson, Jason Ross officiating. Graveside services and interment will be held at 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, at the Prairie Ridge Cemetery in Polo, Missouri. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Wounded Warrior Project or to Ozarks Kat and K9 Shelter in Sunrise Beach. Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Kidwell-Garber Funeral Home of Versailles.