Jean Marie Gentry

A successful Realtor for 35 years in the Kansas City metropolitan area, and the loving matriarch of a large family, Jean Marie Gentry passed away on January 29, 2024, at the age of 92 at St Luke’s Hospice House in Kansas City, MO, after a short battle with cancer.

Jean was born in Sydney, Iowa on September 4, 1931, to parents Gavin and Helen Loudon, who had a total of 6 children. The family moved to Shenandoah, Iowa next to neighbor Mary Lee Campbell, who introduced Jean to her little brother just back from Naval service in World War II, James R. Gentry. Instantly falling in love with James in his dress whites, Jean and James were married for 62 years before his passing on May 24, 2010.

James and Jean moved to Kansas City in 1947 where they raised 5 children, Reverend Terry L. Gentry (Beverly), Cheryl Napoli, Carole Driver, Deaconess Christi Campos, and James Alan Gentry. At the time of her passing, Jean’s family had grown to 10 grandchildren, (Sherry Stark, Reverend Terry Lee Gentry Jr, James F. Gentry, Angela Kinslow, Sheila Taylor, Master Sergeant Jim L. Gentry, Cortney Myers, Amanda Ross, Ceres Campos, and Claire Campos), 17 great-grandchildren, and 15 great-great-grandchildren, with one more on the way. Jean loved her large family and knew how to make each grandchild feel special.

An active United Methodist throughout her life, it was important to Jean to raise her children in a Christian home, resulting in 4 of her direct descendants in life-time ministry. Jean’s faith was a great strength to her till the end of her life. Jean was a member of Faubion United Methodist, Gashland United Methodist, and 1st United Methodist Church of North Kansas City, as well as an active member of United Methodist Women.

Jean loved selling Real Estate. She was a Realtor with Eugene D. Brown and Realty Executives, a member of The National and Kansas City Regional Realtors Associations and the Million Dollar Club. James was a homebuilder, so Jean listed and sold many of his homes, as well as houses that James and Jean flipped long before it was in fashion.

Jean is preceded in death by her husband; parents; stepfather, Ralph Olsen; her brothers, Robert, Donald, & Gary Loudon; her sister, Phyllis Cartelli; and a son-in-law, Jimmy D. Driver; as well as 24 brothers and sisters-in-law.

Jean is survived in death by her children; grandchildren; her sister, Suzanne Blaksley of Fort Lauderdale, Fl; her brother-in-law, Hollis Gentry of Texarkana, TX; and numerous nieces and nephews, each dear to her.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, February 3rd at Gashland United Methodist Church, (7715 N Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO). Visitation will be at 10 AM with the service beginning at 11 AM.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests gifts to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research https://www.michaeljfox.org/.