Martha Jeanne Ferris Henry

Martha Jeanne was born on July 15, 1928 in Kansas City, MO the daughter of George Edward Ferris and Irene (Gladieux) Ferris of Chillicothe, MO who preceded her in death. Martha was united in Holy Matrimony with John Thomas Henry (Tom) in Kansas City, MO on February 3, 1951.

Jeanne and Tom were nomads. They moved many times to many and varied cities and states. Their first step was to build their dream home in KC. Where they moved in with their first born, Ruth Ann soon after her birth on Dec 30, 1951 (a nice tax deduction). Indeed they were so enthralled with the deduction that Stephen Thomas was born 365 days later (cha-ching… another deduction) soon the brood included Christine Lee, June, 1954 and Michael Paul, September, 1955. Clearly their new home was filling up, so they decided to upgrade the garage to a new family room. Patricia Marie came along in May of 1957. The family still growing, Edward John came along in June of 1959 and Rosemary Claire, in Oct, 1960. Not too long after completing the addition, Tom was forced to seek new employment.

This quickly resulted in an opportunity to move to southern California. They packed up, sold their home and moved lock, stock and barrel to Coasta Mesa, CA. Just prior to departing, David Eugene came along in January, 1962 (missed the tax deduction that year). Coasta Mesa wasn’t what they had hoped it would be, so after less than a year, they headed back to KC, where they settled for a couple of years.

Again, Tom found new employment and shortly thereafter was offered a position in Nashville, TN. Back on the road again, they moved south. After little more than a year, alas, once again, Tom was offered a promotion with a move to New Orleans, LA.

They picked up the kids from school on the last day of term and again headed south.

New Orleans was an eye opener. After just 3 months and a week after the new term at school had begun for the kids along came Hurricane Betsy in early September 1965. Jeanne’s mother was visiting and they lost power, phone, and gas for a week or more. To add to that, on September 27, Paul Gregory made his entrance. Irene Julia came along in April of 1967. The New Orleans years were busy with high school, middle school and grammar school, Mardi Gras, and all the other many events of growing children. In 1972, again Tom was afforded an opportunity to move to Fremont, Ca and again all were packed up and headed west, less the three oldest who had other plans.

Fremont years were much like the rest, just in a different place. Fremont was a wonderful area of California being centralized in the state so Tom and Jeanne could continue to guide more of the kids into their maturity and teach them all how to enjoy the environment we were in at the time.

As normal, once again, Tom accepted a new position in his company and off to St Louis MO. In Missouri, They felt a little closer to home in order to re-connect with the extended family in Kansas City.

However, there was one more business move in the offing, Reno, NV. With less kids in tow, they were able to venture out and continue their adventure through life taking full advantage of both the immediate surroundings and to travel the highways and byways of the country a little more.

After a full life moving throughout the country with Tom’s business duties and raising ten children, Martha and Tom enjoyed retirement starting in 1995 in Hermitage, MO. After retirement, Martha and Tom maintained an active membership in the Catholic Parish of St Bernadette, also in Hermitage, MO. and continued to visit the many places the deposited kids in as well as others.

After 54 years of marriage, Tom preceded her in death on March 27, 2005. Throughout the years, Martha maintained a full time job raising ten children. She always enjoyed her children’s successes, reading, singing, cross stitching and watching the birds and the flowers come and go with every changing season. She always was the glue that bound her family together being the positive influence to the entire family with her encouragement and gentle guidance. Martha was always “The Calm in a Sea of Chaos”.

Survivors include: five daughters, Ruth Mahoney of Florida, Christine Shelton of Arkansas, Patricia Burrus of Oklahoma, Rosemary Carstens of Oklahoma and Irene Chronister of Illinois; along with five sons, Stephen Henry of Minnesota, Michael Henry of Missouri, Edward Henry of Missouri, David Henry of Texas and Paul Henry of Missouri. Also survived by fourteen grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her four sisters and one brother.

Visitation will be held on Monday, May 17, 2021 from 9:00 am – 10:00 am at St Andrews Catholic Church in Holts Summit, MO. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:00 am at the church with Fr. Rob Fields officiating. Burial will be in Mt Olivet Catholic Cemetery in Kansas City, MO.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Knights of Columbus –Hermitage, MO or Alzheimer’s Association, c/o Debo Funeral Home, 833 Court St, Fulton, MO 65251.