Peggy Ammons Martinez

Peggy married Ruben in Honolulu, Hawaii, and from that time on they made spending time together a priority. They loved to travel, try new things, and meet people. Together they visited all 50 states, more than 125 countries, all seven continents, every Presidential Library, and many of the National Parks.

After earning a B.S. in Economics and an MBA, Peggy built a career spanning more than 30 years as a Grant Manager, Senior Program Manager, and Trainer for Department of Labor–funded programs. She also taught college-level economics at Rockhurst University and Kansas City Kansas Community College.

After retiring, Peggy joyfully began what she called her “second life.” She and Ruben volunteered for more than 12 years with many fine arts organizations, including the Kansas City Symphony, Opera, Ballet, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Quality Hill Playhouse, Johnson County Community College Carlsen Center, MET, KC Actors Theatre, MTH at Crown Center, Starlight Theatre, Spinning Tree Theatre, Coterie, and the Folly Theater.

Peggy also belonged to three book clubs as well as the Leawood Women’s Club, Leawood Welcomers, Brown & Gold, and the Leawood Garden Club, where she helped co-chair the Art, Literature, and Garden Club “Etcetera” day-trip groups. She enjoyed painting and took art classes at Johnson County Community College, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and the Jewish Community Center. She also loved staying active through water aerobics, Tai Chi, and yoga. Peggy often said that if she had known this wonderful world of clubs and volunteering existed, she would have joined much sooner.

Peggy is survived by her devoted husband, Ruben, and her beloved nieces and nephew, many of whom lived with her at different points in their lives—and whose spouses had all slept on her couches: Robbie (Wendee) Seaton; Kristy (Tyler) Kelley; Lindsey (Rob) Zucker; and Kelsey Himes. She is also lovingly remembered by their children: Kaitlyn Seaton; the “St. Louis Group”—Claire, Connor, and Calleigh Kelley; Noah Zucker; and the Himes kids—Sara Kate, Brennan, Mallory, and Mae. She loved her great-nieces and great-nephews and made quilts for each of them, just as her mother had made quilts for all of her children and grandchildren.

Additional survivors include her siblings Gary, Darrel, Judy, and Elaine; her stepdaughter, Teresa, and Teresa’s children Brianna, Telicia, and Diego; and her stepson, Ruben Jr. She is also survived by about 500 nieces and nephews, and great and great-great nieces and nephews on Ruben’s side, and she adored all of them.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Glen and Alberta Ammons, and a niece, Ronda Seaton.