Charles Brite

Charles Francis Brite, 78, Gladstone, MO., formerly of Gardner, KS., peacefully departed shortly after 10 on the evening of May 22, 2026, at NorthCare Hospice House in North Kansas City, MO., from multiple organ failures.

Born at St. Vincent’s, Hospital, in Kansas City, MO., on November 5, 1947, the fourth of five children of William Byron and Margaret Mary (Emhoff) Brite. His Great Uncle and namesake, US Navy Reserve pilot Charles Edward Emhoff perished in WW II. He attended schools in Shawnee and Gardner, graduating from Gardner High in 1965 after his parents bought the farm on the NW corner of 191st and Moonlight Road in 1953.

He served in the US Army from Jan 1968 to Dec 1969. He completed basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO., (Ft. Lost-in-the-Woods) and specialized training at Ft. Knox, KY., before being stationed at Ft. Clayton in the Republic of Panama Canal Zone.

He enjoyed fast cars - building & racing several hot rods with brothers Billy & Gene. His first & favorite vehicle was a 1923 Bucket Model T roadster, followed by a blue with metal flake four door 1970 Ford Galaxie 500 and a two-door baby blue 1967 Ford Galaxie 500 convertible with a white rag top.

He joined the family business of trucking after a week on the road with his brother Gene in 1975. He bought Gene’s truck, a 1974 Kenworth long nose known as the Popsicle Pimp. A long-haul trucker with 46 years of jammin’ gears across the lower 48 and Canada, he enjoyed the scenery and being a free spirit. East Bound and Down he was never in one place for long a true Prisoner of the Highway always Rollin’ On.

He married Loveda Lou Pearce on Jan 16, 1971, at Sacred Heart Church in Gardner. They have two daughters: Melissa Jean and Pamela Marie.

A connoisseur of funerals (as he always referred to marriage) until he met and married Donna Jean Roach on September 14, 1991, in Antioch Park in Overland Park, KS. Eventually divorced they remarried in 2006 at St. Peter’s Church in Kansas City, KS. He will be missed by the Roach children: Debra, Ella, Lloyd Jr., Lori, Carl and their families.

Over the years he enjoyed 3 Musketeer candy bars, bottom shelf Black Velvet whiskey with Pepsi, watching his grandsons play baseball, feeling the ground shake under Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 and rooting for Godzilla and The Duke. Seventh degree member of Patrons of Husbandry.

Survived by Melissa (Rob) Anderson of Paola, KS and Pamela (Steven) Parks of Shawnee, KS and grandsons Austin William, Logan Robert, Brian Neal and Clayton William. Loved by 24 nieces and nephews and sister-in-law Geraldine Sue Brite. Preceded in death by his parents, sisters Mary Margaret Cisper and Carolyn Virginia Peterson, and brothers William Byron Brite Jr., and Richard Eugene Brite.

Services will be led by Fr. Benjamin Armentrout at St. Gabriel Archangel Catholic Church, 4737 N. Cleveland Ave., KCMO on Saturday, June 13, 2026. Visitation at 10 AM, rosary at 11 AM, Funeral service at 11:30 AM. Burial will take place at White Chapel Cemetery, 6600 NE Antioch Rd., Gladstone, MO, at 12:30 PM. A reception will be provided by St. Gabriel Parish.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to American Heart Association.