Sheila Kay Moody

Sheila Kay Small was born on January 3, 1945 in Beloit, Kansas to Tom and Regena Small. It was a joyous beginning to the new year. Sheila was the 2nd born of the four Small girls which included older sister Cheryl, and younger sisters Candy and Deborah. Sheila’s love of singing especially church music was established early in her childhood and continued to bring her joy throughout her adult life. The Small household was a loving home and the girls remained life-long best friends.

Sheila graduated from Wichita East High School in 1963. She continued her education at Wichita State University graduating in 1967 with a B.A. in Elementary Education. Sheila accepted her first teaching position at Whittier Elementary in Kansas City, MO. A lifelong learner, Sheila received a Master’s of Education from Emporia State University in 1981.

Sheila first saw her future husband, Ken, at a meeting of the Kansas City Ski Club. Ken happened to play rugby with her sister Cheryl’s husband, Steve, and the two couples soon sparked a lifelong friendship of fond memories.

Ken and Sheila were united in marriage at St. Paul’s Church on the Plaza on March 7, 1970. Soon they bought their first and only home in Overland Park. The family home hosted many family events and parties including the elaborate Small family Thanksgiving dinners prepared by Sheila and her sisters.

Sheila truly loved her teaching career spanning 35 years. She taught first, second, third and fifth graders, particularly enjoying fifth grade. Sheila retired in 2002 from Crestview Elementary after 32 years in the same building. Sheila left a caring and loving legacy that lives on through her students.

On December 2, 1975, Sheila and Ken welcomed their first child, Thomson Small Moody. Five years later, on October 22, their second son Frederick Alexander Moody was born and completed the family. Sheila was a wonderful mother to her boys and loved sharing and supporting them in their activities. She enjoyed preparing meals and spending quality time with each of them.

Church was always important to Sheila. She attended Valley View United Methodist church until it closed, and then Asbury United Methodist.

Many of Sheila’s fondest childhood memories were summer trips to the family’s cabin in Colorado. Sheila and Ken continued that tradition with their boys passing on a memory bank full of fun hiking adventures and delicious breakfasts prepared on the cabin’s wood stove.

Throughout their 50 years together, it was apparent that Ken and Sheila made a great team. The couple enjoyed their differences, but each was willing to cooperate and cared deeply for the other’s wishes. Sheila genuinely enjoyed Ken’s many stories and jokes. When Ken began telling one of his many stories, it wasn’t unusual for Sheila just to shake her head with a loving, bemused smile.

In her retirement Sheila enjoyed her boys’ families and delighted in being a grandmother. She loved doing crafts with her grandchildren and reading stories. She proudly displayed and carried pictures of all of her grandchildren. She also travelled and took trips and celebrated life with dear family friends, John and Cindy Carnahan and Tony and Laura Magistro. She remained dedicated to her singing in retirement and participated in a European tour with her singing group.

Sheila Kay Small Moody died on January 12, 2020 after a courageous battle with cancer. Her husband, Ken survives of the home. Other survivors include son Tom (Corie) and grandchildren Taylor and Max Moody; son Fred (Betsy) and grandchildren Jed, Gus, Ike, Mac and Mae Bess Moody as well as sisters Cheryl (Steve) Schumann; Candy Small, and Deborah (Roger Fagre) Small; sister-in-law Barbara Spray as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. Sheila was preceded in death by her parents Tom and Regena Small.

The funeral will be held on Sunday, February, 9, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at Asbury United Methodist Church, 5400 West 75th Street in Prairie Village, Kansas. Reception to follow at the church.

Memorials may be made to St. Joseph’s Indian School, P.O. Box 100, Chamberlain, SD 57325 or can be made online at www.stjo.org/flowers.

Sheila saw her future in the lives of her children and grandchildren. She spoke with great pride about both sons and their wives. To sum it up she once said: “I have the best family in the world.”