Nora Kathleen Daulton

Well known among family and friends for her strong-willed spirit and feisty personality, Nora Kathleen Holmes Parry passed away the evening of Thursday, February 1, 2024 at Liberty Hospital holding hands with a family member. She was 91 years old.

Nora was born at home in Hutchinson, Kansas on July 24, 1932 to Roscoe Abbott Holmes and Frances Copeland Holmes, who were sharecroppers during the Dust Bowl. Her family moved to Greenwood, Missouri soon after where Nora spent the majority of her childhood. She was the first-born and only daughter, which probably explains her occasionally defiant attitude but big heart.

During her teen years she worked at Sears and Roebuck and the Pickwick Hotel. Nora attended Lee’s Summit High School where she played on the basketball team and graduated in 1950 as class valedictorian. It was at Lee’s Summit High School where she met her husband, William (Bill) H. Parry II. They were wed on August 5, 1950 and lived in downtown Kansas City before moving to Liberty, Missouri. To their marriage were born seven children: four girls and three boys.

She was a long-time member of St. James Catholic Church in Liberty and an active member of the Altar Society. Nora had an entrepreneurial spirit. Before her youngest went to kindergarten, she operated a daycare and made wedding and birthday cakes to bring in extra money. At Easter, she would also make and sell her popular sugar-mold eggs.

Nora worked a number of jobs, starting at GM Peters Insurance, then The Liberty Shopper News, Century 21 real estate, then Prudential. She retired from Prudential on December 30, 1995. Following the death of her husband Bill in 1992, Nora married Clifford Smart of Gladstone, Missouri. Following his death in 1999, she married Herb Daulton of Liberty, Missouri before his passing in 2012.

At her home of more than 40 years on Groom Street, Nora enjoyed gardening and tending to her flower beds. She was a 4H leader for many years in the Clay County Busy Bees club, and one year was recognized as Missouri 4H Leader of the Year. She enjoyed dancing, loved the music of Engelbert Humperdinck, was a friend to all dogs, and pink was her favorite color. She disliked being told what to do. She had a penchant for McDonald’s in her later years, often taking her grandchildren there for lunch. Nora had an affinity for chocolate in all forms and kept a stash of chocolate candies which she generously shared with her grandchildren. On the day she passed away, there was a beautiful purple-pink sunset.

Nora is survived by her brother Jim Hale of Kansas City, Missouri; her seven children, Patricia (Will) Delcambre of Skiatook, Oklahoma, William (Stacye) Parry III of Denton, Texas, Phyllis Lehman of Liberty, Missouri, Eileen Parry and Jon Salak of Gilbert, Arizona, Marilyn Parry and Steve Briscoe of Grinnell, Iowa, Fred Parry of Columbia, Missouri, and John (Dr. Amy) Parry of Liberty, Missouri; 12 grandchildren, Courtney (Kyle) Cagle, Ashley Acevedo and Teddy Collins, Andrew (Stephanie) Parry, Emily Parry and Jonathan Traylor, Gary Lehman, Tim Lehman, Max Parry, Nick Parry, Davis (Kelsey) Parry, Madison Parry, Savannah Parry, and Caroline Parry; six great-grandchildren, London Cagle, Hector Collins, Omar Collins, Isaac Collins, Alana Parry, and Cohen Parry.

Nora was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Gerald Holmes and Claude Holmes; son-in-law Gary Lehman, Sr.; daughter-in-law Melody Parry; and grandson Matthew Lehman.

Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on Monday, February 5, 2024 at St. James Catholic Church (309 S. Stewart Liberty, MO 64068). A funeral Mass will be held the following day at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at St. James Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Glenridge Cemetery (B Highway, Liberty, MO 64068).