Julia "Honey" Florez

Julia Gamino Florez, 90, of Olathe, Kansas passed away surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. She will forever be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend to everyone she knew.

“Honey” as she was known by her family and friends was born on April 6, 1932 in Kansas City, Kansas to Santiago and Margarita (Juarez) Gamino. She attended John J. Ingles Elementary School and lived in Kansas City her whole life. She became a widow at the age of twenty-eight with three small children JoAnn, Maria and Anthony following Antonio Perez’s death. Then she later remarried Raymond G. Florez who had a son Richard and together they had two more sons, Raymond Jr. and Michael.

She worked at the Armour Meat Packing House to support her family. After that, she worked at a manufacturing company, a day care and finally at the AARP Pharmacy on Broadway. When the pharmacy closed in the 1980’s she retired early. She then moved to Bucyrus, Kansas first living with her daughter and son-in-law Maria and Brian Smith, then with her son Tony and his wife Ruth and with her daughter JoAnn.

When she was younger, she loved to go dancing. She enjoyed music, and being around others. Honey also enjoyed spending time with her family. Nothing gave her more pleasure in life than the time she spent with her grandchildren and especially in raising her two granddaughters Brianna and Toni. She enjoyed sitting on her front porch with her sister Tina watching the activities at Shawnee Park. Their home became the gathering place for family and friends to watch the Mexican team baseball tournaments. Honey and her sisters were honored with a bench in Shawnee Park with a plaque saying “The Gamino Sisters” She taught her children all she knew about caring for others. She considered herself very blessed to have such a supportive and loving family. She will be sadly missed.

Honey is preceded in death by her parents Santiago and Margarita Gamino, her loving husband Antonio (Tony) Perez and Raymond G. Florez, sisters, Victoria (Vicki) Estrada (Alfonso), Jessie Garcia (Roy), Guadalupe (Lupe) Thomas (Paul), Valentina (Tina) Segura (Joe), Margaret (Maggie) Padilla (Ernest), Cipriana Gamino Mora (Chris) and her brother Daniel Gamino (Rachel). She is survived by her daughters JoAnn Close of Olathe, Kansas, Maria A. Smith and her husband Brian of Overland Park, Kansas and her sons, Anthony (Buster) David Perez and his wife Ruth of Olathe, Kansas, Raymond G. Florez Jr. of Kansas City, Missouri and Michael P. Florez and his wife Elizabeth of Gladstone, Missouri, Richard Wilder and family of Topeka, Kansas, honorary son, Joe Madrigal and his wife Sylvia of Independence, Missouri and honorary daughter Ann (Snookie) Alvarez of Independence, Missouri. Left behind to cherish her memory are her eleven grandchildren, Jennifer Trujillo, Claudio Perez (Alicia), Larry I. Close Jr. (Toni), Max Strausbaugh Jr., (Lindsey), Crystal Heider (Donnie), Micheal Perez, Angela Florez, Ashley Florez, Michael Florez Jr. Catelyn Perez (Michael), Brianna Smith (fiancé Tommy), Richard Wilder Jr. (Sonya), Cindy Wilder (Linda Towery) and Richelle Wilder, ten great grandchildren, Antonia, Angelique, Zachary, Ava, Alexandria, Samuel, Miki, Austin, Emma, and Natalina. Honey also leaves behind several great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren in Topeka, Kansas along with many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

The family would like to thank Good Samaritan Society of Olathe for the wonderful care and friendship that was given to their mother Julia for many years. Our mother was loved by each and everyone there at the facility. Everyone gathered to pay their respects as she was taken out of the building. They would also like to extend a sincere thank you to Good Shepherd Hospice of Olathe, Kansas for the compassionate care and loving kindness they provided to our mother through her final days.

Julia will be cremated according to her wishes. Visitation, with a viewing starting at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, March 21st at the McGilley & Frye Funeral Home 105 East Loula Street Olathe, Kansas. Memorial Service will start at 11:00 a.m. following the visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Good Samaritan Society of Olathe 20705 West 151st Street Olathe, Kansas 66061 or Good Shepard Hospice of Olathe 1317 South Fountain Olathe, Kansas 66061.

Condolences may be offered at www.McGilley-Frye.com