Mary was born in Rulo, Nebraska, a small town with a population of 800 at that time. She was born to Louis and Dorothy Darveau, just one of four children. Brothers; Bernard Darveau of Carroll, Iowa; Charles Darveau died at the age of two; Two sisters; Leona Knobbe of Falls City, Nebraska; and Veronica Rieger of Sheridan, Wyoming.
She was baptized at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Rulo, Nebraska. She attended and graduated from Sacred Heart High at Falls City, Nebraska in 1948. Married Neil Francis Whitehead in 1950 at Rulo, he was from Cozad, Nebraska. He died in 1980. They moved to KCMO in 1952. After moving to Independence, Missouri in 1959 she started working for Western Electric in 1962. They moved to Smithville in 1975, she continued working at Western Electric for 26 years.
Over time, the couple had five children; Dianne Evans of Raytown, MO; Myra Davidson of St Joe, MO.;
David Whitehead of KCMO; 2 preceded her in death; Gerald Whitehead of KCMO; Sharon Brown of Gladstone, MO.
She also had 32 grandchildren; 36 Great grandchildren; and 9 Great great grandchildren.
In 1987, she remarried to Rene Chevalier, they moved to Metro North Area in 1988 and continued to live there until she passed. Rene passed in 2003.
Mary was a skilled seamstress. She sewed dance costumes for Paul Zimmerman's Dance Studio in Independence, MO. At Christmas time she would sew for Santa Helpers Models at Emery Byrd Thayers Stores in KC, MO in the 1960’s. Hobbies of hers were sewing, crocheting doilies and loved to fish and garden. But most of all she loved her family.
The family would like to thank the caregivers at Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care .
A visitation service for Mary will be held Friday, March 3, 2023 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM at McGilley Antioch Chapel, 3325 Northeast Vivion Road, Kansas City, MO 64119. A funeral service will occur Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 9:00 AM at McGilley Antioch Chapel.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mcgilleyantiochchapel.com for the Chevalier family.
