Elbert Willard Sleyster

Elbert Willard Sleyster

(Jan. 20, 1929 -Sep.2, 2022)

Willard was born January 20, 1929, to Willard and Neva (Wallace) Whalen, in Independence.   After his mother’s death in 1930, he was adopted by Fred and Grace (Easterla) Sleyster of Kansas City, MO.  As a young boy, he helped on the dairy farm and milk delivery route.   He attended school in Raytown, then joined the Navy, in 1946, at the age of 17 years.  There, he served as a Yeoman, on base in Jacksonville.  He missed his high school sweetheart, Dora Ann Clark, and requested leave to go home to marry her.  Leave was granted but he was told by his Commanding Officer that he better come back with a wife.  He did. They were married on December 5, 1946 and were together until her death in 2014.   Three children were born to this marriage-Sandy, JB and Willa.   

As a young man, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and continued to serve Him throughout his life.  He was ordained as a Deacon at Burdette Baptist Church in 1959, and later served as Deacon at First Baptist Church in Drexel, First Baptist of Harrisonville and at Abiding Love Baptist.  In his later years, he took on the task of building a prayer garden at the church, planting trees, shrubs and flowers and tended it faithfully as long as his health allowed.

Willard worked as a grocery clerk in Los Angeles and Kansas City MO, and eventually bought & operated his own store—Drexel Market, specializing in fresh produce and cutting his own meat. He sold the store in 1966. He went to work as a Prudential agent & earned lots of conference trips which he and Dora enjoyed.   Willard enjoyed woodworking crafts, landscaping, gardening & fishing.  He enjoyed time with friends and being a big cut up and tease.   He also enjoyed Wednesday morning prayer breakfast at church with his friends.

Willard was preceded in death by his wife, Dora, his daughter Willa, his parents, and two sisters (Margaret and Juanita).  He is survived by his children Sandy (Jim), JB (Vicki), 5 grandchildren Cliff (Jane), Vicki (Robert), Jeffrey, Nathan (Sara) and Jacob (Kristin), 13 great grandchildren, Kirsten (Stephen), Hannah, Colton, Blake, Alex, Ella, Jaxon, Bryce, Ben, Klien, Alaya, Mary and Lakelynn; one brand new great great granddaughter, Roxann, and a slew of other family members, and friends.  We will all miss him.

The family of Willard Sleyster will receive friends from 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 10, 2022 at Abiding Love Baptist Church, 24300 E. State Route EE, Harrisonville, Missouri 64701. Funeral Service will immediately follow at 11:00 a.m., at the church, with Pastor Clayton With officiating. Casket Bearers will be Stephen Richardson, Blake Behl, Jaxon Sleyster, Bryce Clary, Jacob Sleyster and J.B. Sleyster.  Interment is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 10, 2022, at Brooking Cemetery, 10004 E. 53^rd Street, Raytown, Missouri 64133, with Full Military Honors provided by the United States Navy and V.F.W. Post #3118 Honor Guard of Pleasant Hill, Missouri.

In Memory of Willard Sleyster, contributions are suggested to Abiding Love Baptist Church.