Helen Staker

Helen S. Staker, 89, of Kansas City, passed away peacefully on October 15, 2012 surrounded by her family. The visitation will be Friday, October 19, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 am at Mt. Moriah & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Rd., Kansas City, MO, 64131. A memorial service will begin at 10:00 a.m. There will be a private burial at the Leavenworth National Cemetery in Leavenworth, Kansas. Helen was born in Lansing, Michigan, the daughter of Arthur and Helena Avis. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers Arthur and Clarence Avis. She grew up in Lansing, where she attended high school, and met her sweetheart, James (Jim) Staker. Helen and Jim were married 70 years. They had two sons and lived for ten years in Denver, Colorado before returning to Kansas City where Jim had been born and raised. Helen was a homemaker and took pride in her family, home, and English and German heritage. She enjoyed gardening, bird watching, and preparing her favorite spaghetti dinners for her expanding family. While in Denver she was a founder and president of the Hampton Hills Garden Club and served as president of the Colorado Association of Garden Clubs. She enjoyed reading and had a life-long interest in learning. She was a spiritual person and attended the Methodist church. She is survived by her devoted husband, Jim; sons Rodd (Martha) Staker and Rick (Jeanne) Staker; five grandchildren David (Christy) Staker, Daniel (Karen) Staker, Bridget Staker; Sandy (Greg) Knepper, Sara (Keith) Spisak; and twelve great grandchildren, all of Kansas City. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to: U.S. Olympic Committee-USOC Processing Center, P.O. Box 7010, Albert, Lea, Minnesota 56007 or the Boy Scouts of America (Heart of America Council), 10210 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64131. Condolences may be offered at www.mtmoriah-freeman.com.