Katherine L. (Campbell) Hadley

Katherine Lorene (Campbell) Hadley was born February 15, 1930 in Kansas City, Kansas and departed this life on November 10, 2021 at her home in Independence, Missouri at the age of 91 years, 8 months and 26 days. She was the daughter of Howard William and Josephine (Steers) Campbell.

In addition to her parents, Katherine was preceded in death by her husband, Orlin Wayne Hadley and sister, Betty Lou DeLaFuente. She leaves three children, Gary Hadley and wife Stacy of Blue Springs, Missouri, Susan Lynne Bruna and husband Dennis of Kansas City, Missouri, Wayne E. Hadley of Ionia, Missouri and daughter-in-law, Terry Hadley of Kingsville, Missouri; 9 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, two sisters-in-law, two brothers-in-law and many relatives and friends of multiple generations.

Katherine was a city girl who learned how to become a country farm wife and mother when she, Wayne and children moved to a 100-acre farm outside of Strasburg, Missouri in 1961. She learned the dirt and gravel roads of the area to get kids to school, scouts and 4-H functions. She drove the farm tractor in winter snow and ice to get her kids to the county line and catch the school bus to school. She chatted with the 4 neighbors attached to an 8-party telephone landline in a sparsely populated rural area in the 60’s+ before cell phones. Katherine warmed up baby chicks in a low-temperature kitchen oven, placing them on a cookie sheet with the oven door open so they would dry out and grow up healthy. Those chickens laid eggs in the chicken coop and a couple became dinner.

Katherine was always very social and loved to be with and help people. She belonged to and served in many varied organizations throughout her adult life including, Cub Scout Den Mother, Kingsville 4-H as a project leader, Kingsville PTA member, ABWA of Cass County for 40+ years, Cass County Modern Matrons Extension Club, Holden Senior Center volunteer for 15 years and a board member for several years, Warrensburg Veterans Home volunteer and Twin Lakes Hospice volunteer. Katherine served with various other service organizations providing meals to the elderly, cleaning homes and visiting the homebound. She received awards and certificates for her elder care skills.

Katherine was a reflexologist serving clients in the Holden, Kingsville, Pleasant Hill, Blue Springs and Oak Grove communities from 1977 until recently.

Katherine sustained herself through her love of family and friends. She was consistently engaged with others by helping and attending plays, concerts, weddings, baby showers, graduations, etc. She kept up with the lives of her sister and her in-laws, plus her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren as well as nieces/nephews and those of the next generations through luncheons, parties and frequent phone calls. Everyone knew Katherine and she knew them. She was the life of the party and was always up for a friendly party. She could tell you a story about anyone she’d ever met at the drop of a hat.

Katherine loved to travel and meet people. She traveled to many U.S. and Canadian destinations, visiting significant historical, patriotic and outdoor-life sights with family and friends.

She will continue to be loved and missed by many.

Per Katherine’s wishes, cremation has been accorded. The family of Katherine Hadley will receive friends from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, November 19, 2021 at the Wallace Funeral Home in Pleasant Hill, Missouri. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 20, 2021 at the Wallace Funeral Home with Rev. David Hackett officiating. Contributions are suggested to the Strasburg Cemetery and may be mailed to Cheryl Randolph, 20914 S. State Route CC, Pleasant Hill, Missouri 64080, or may be left at the funeral home.