Salvador John Cervantes

Salvador John Cervantes, 59, of Smithville, Missouri passed away June 4th, 2008. Funeral services will be 9 am Monday, June 9th at Redemptorist Catholic Church, 3333 Broadway, Kansas City, Missouri and burial at Mount Moriah Terrace Park Cemetery located at 801 N.W. 108th Street, Kansas City, Missouri. Visitation will precede services Sunday, June 8th from 7 – 10 pm at Redemptorist Catholic Church.

Salvador was born July 17, 1948 in Kansas City, Missouri. He is a graduate of Bishop Lillis High School and served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1975 and was part of the 7th Calvary. He married Gloria Rodriguez of Kansas City, Missouri on May 22, 1971. Sal had many accomplishments the most important to him was having his three children. He played for the Argentine Eagles and for the Amigos and was inducted into the Mexican-American Softball Hall of Fame as well as the Mexican-American Basketball Hall of Fame. He started the youth basketball program in Smithville, Missouri and directed it from 1988 to 1992. He served as president of the Pan-American Golf Association for three terms.

Salvador was preceded in death by his parents Salvatore and Louisa (Martinez) Cervantes, Foster father Andrew Medellin, and foster brother Andrew Michael Medellin. He is survived by his wife of 37 years Gloria Cervantes, one daughter, Jenifer Johnson (Derrick) of Kansas City, Missouri, two sons Salvador (Jeanette) and Manuel, one granddaughter Alijandra and two grandsons Antonio and Salvador, one special nephew who was loved like a son Paul Ramirez (Sarah) of Kansas City, Missouri, siblings: Mary Lou Nunez (Leo) of California, Peter Cervantes (Alyce) of Las Vegas, Nevada, Steve Cervantes (Deanna) of San Diego, California, foster mother Carmen Medellin, foster siblings: Toni Ebert (Allen), Debbie Schmidt (Brian), Raymond Medellin (Brenda), Harry Medellin (Angie), Artie Medellin, 2 sisters-in-law and 2 brothers-in-law and their spouses and 10 nieces and nephews and 5 great-nieces and nephews.