Grace was born in November 1926 to the late Clarence and Myrtle Winfrey. Born near Sibley in Jackson County; Grace grew up on farm in Buckner, Missouri, just off US-24 Hwy.
Grace was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Eldon Wilcox in Nov. 2001, siblings: Joe Winfrey, Bill Winfrey, Glen Winfrey, Marjorie Jordon and Annabell Barnett; nephew Leroy Barnett; stepson Robert Wilcox; and step granddaughter Kathryn Wilcox. Survivors include her sister Virginia McKay, stepson Donald Wilcox, nephew Harry Barnett; and nieces Peggy McKay, Barbara Andrews, and Marilyn Bryan; step grandson Chris Wilcox; her “Adopted” family of Gwen and John Helmuth of Gladstone, Missouri and their 3 sons, Ian, Evan, and Cameron; step granddaughters Dawn and Nicole, and their 2 daughters.
Grace was a great lady, and her name suited her. A member of the Greatest Generation, Grace worked thru the war years at the Lake City Arsenal now part of Independence, Missouri. After marrying Eldon on May 10th 1957, they bought a home in Hamilton Heights Neighborhood, Gladstone, Missouri. Many years later, after Eldon’s passing, she moved to Wexford Assisted Living, KC North where she had many friends and her sister Virginia and brother Joe, where Alzheimer’s set in. After a few years of dealing with the effects of the Alzheimer’s and needing more help, she then moved to the Memory care unit at Addington Place near Liberty, Missouri.
Grace and Eldon found their great loves in each other, had a wonderful life and a great retirement, traveling all over the USA. They enjoyed bowling at NKC Leagues, gardening, canning, crafting, doting on grandkids and especially their adopted family the Helmuth’s. Grace was always employed, and mostly in the trucking industry like Eldon. First with Watson-Wilson, and moving through a number of consolidations until retirement with P.I.E Trucking.
Special Thanks to Liberty Hospices --- Pat Atkins and Kimberly Lowe.
