Mary Elaine Mussett

Mary “Elaine” Mussett passed away on Tuesday October 21, 2025 at her daughter’s home in Smithville, Missouri. Elaine was born on September 5, 1951 in Kansas City, Missouri to the late Lillian Maxine Coats and John William Coats.

Elaine grew up in Kansas City and graduated from Oak Park High School in 1969. She then went to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as an operator. In 1971, Elaine married Kenneth Wayne Mussett (divorcing in 1988). Later that year, she welcomed Kenneth Wesley Mussett. In 1974, her daughter, Stacey Lynn Mussett, was born. In 1987, Elaine started working for the United States Postal Service as a rural letter carrier. This was a job that she loved and took so much pride in her work. Elaine worked for the postal service for 25 years until she was forced to retire in 2013 due to her initial diagnosis of breast cancer. In 1994, her best friend and first grandson was born, Devin Anthony Ragone. She took so much pride in being his “Nanny”. Once Devin was born, Elaine became “Nanny” to the entire family. She wasn’t really known as Mom anymore; it was just Nanny. Later that same year, her second grandson was born, Alexander Wesley Blake Mussett. Her greatest accomplishment was being a nanny to her grandchildren. In December of 2024, she received diagnosis of stage four breast cancer. She fought a long battle while her daughter and son-in-law cared for her in their home where she passed.

Elaine will be dearly missed by her beloved children, Stacey Stephenson and her husband, Aaron Stephenson, and Kenneth Mussett and his wife, Diana Mussett. She was the proud grandmother of Devin Ragone, and Alex Mussett and his wife, Azaria Mussett; great grandmother of Tristan Mussett.

Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, James Robert Miller, Jr., and John Edward Miller, her sisters, Darlene Elizabeth Coats, and Brenda Kristine Coats, her grandson, Vincent Anthony Raley, and nephew, Sean Yochim.

Relatives and friends are invited to the Memorial Service at White Chapel Cemetery, 6600 NE Antioch Rd., Gladstone, MO 64118 on Saturday, November 8, 2025 2025 at 2:00 PM with Visitation from 12:00 Noon until service time. Interment will follow the service at White Chapel Cemetery, Gladstone. Please share memories and condolences on the White Chapel Funeral Home website.