Mary J. Kirkpatrick

Mary Jane “Jean” (Merrill) Kirkpatrick, 96, passed peacefully away on September 27, 2013. Memorial services will be Saturday, October 26, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. with visitation one hour prior to the service at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, 700 East 110th Street, Kansas City, Missouri. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the family in honor of their father for memorialization on the Veterans Pillar at Mt. Moriah Cemetery. Jean was born on June 12, 1917 in Brunswick, Missouri. She graduated at age 16 as the Valedictorian of her class. Jean was a gifted musician and studied Voice and Dance at the Conservatory of Music in Kansas City. Later she served as Choir Director and Soloist in Church choirs. She was a passionate political, environmental and human and civil rights activist. Jean exhibited her passions serving as Democratic Committee Woman, Chairing Political campaigns and sitting on Kansas City’s first Pollution Control Board. She served as Executive Secretary of both the Citizens Association and the American Federation of Teachers. Jean was Chairman of the Marlborough Community Council, PTA President and Area Council of PTA’s Chair. She loved her family, the beauty of nature, history and her Christian faith. She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Frank Kirkpatrick, her parents, Lewis and Johnny (Rucker) Merrill, her sister, Marjorie Humo and brother, Wayne Merrill. Jean is survived by her two daughters, Kim Martincich (Jerry) and Ellin Kirkpatrick (Frank Davis), three grandchildren, Scott Pitts, Jordan Martincich (Denice) and Jerilee Martincich, three great grandchildren, Casey and Chandler Pitts, and Graeme Martincich.