Dorothy "Kay" Appleberry

It is the most fitting tribute possible that Kay passed away surrounded in her Independence, Missouri home by her loving children and grandchildren. She spent her final days reminiscing, singing, praying and welcoming her many friends and family members in the home where she raised her two children, Susan (Darrin) Widick and Rob (Rachelle) Appleberry and spent many ‘Grandma Days’ with her five grandchildren, Abbey (fiance Sean Moise) and Allie Widick, and RJ (Allie), Ashley and Robby Appleberry.

Proud of her rural Louisburg, Kansas roots, Kay grew up on a farm with her three brothers and one sister, and the land remains in the family today. She graduated from Louisburg Rural High School in 1957. She attended Kansas State University, where she earned a BS in Medical Technology in 1961. She spent her life in the medical field as a med tech, retiring from Medical Plaza Consultants

Kay married Robert M. Appleberry on September 12, 1964. She always said that she didn’t marry Bob just because he had a boat, but that it certainly didn’t hurt that he had one. Kay and Bob spent many enjoyable hours fishing and water skiing on any body of water that would welcome them. They celebrated 56 years of marriage before Bob’s passing in 2021. They enjoyed time together, whether in a boat, planting a garden, attending activities with their children, or in their retirement years with their grandchildren.

Kay was a proud member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority at K-State, and was recognized as Woman of the Year as an alumna. She attended Eastgate Christian Church, and the family is thankful for the outpouring of care from her church family and Pastor Rhonda. The Bunko Girls of Elaine, Sally, Chris, Sandy, Lonnie, Linda and Lea brought her great joy. Her passions of baking banana bread for any lucky recipient and growing her peonies will live on in those she shared them with.

Name the season, and there was a sport that Kay was watching. March Madness brought out the NCAA brackets (with a yellow highlighter for her winners) in the spring. In the summer it was Royals baseball. The fall brought out the purple for her beloved Wildcats on college football Saturdays (and really any college team that was playing that day), and the red for Chiefs on Sundays. College bowl games in the winter rounded out the schedule.

Most of all, though, it was about family for Kay. She cherished those aforementioned ‘Grandma Days’ with her five grandchildren, including weenie roasts in the woods and catching crawdads in the creek by her house, enjoying black cows at Mugs Up, coloring, playing board games and cards, and just spending quality time together.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, mother- and father-in-law Robert and Wilma Appleberry, and brother-in-law Mick Summervill.

She is survived by her children and grandchildren, and by siblings Robert (Loree) Gardner, Paola, Kansas; Mark (Dorothy) Gardner, Louisburg, Kansas; Marge Summervill, Marion, Kansas; and Owen (Marsha) Gardner, Louisburg, Kansas.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Widick and Appleberry Family Fund at the Truman Heartland Community Foundation for the awarding of scholarship funds to K-State.

A visitation will be on Saturday, September 13, 2025 from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM at Floral Hills Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 7000 Blue Ridge Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64133.

A Funeral Service will follow at 10:00 AM, Saturday, September 13, 2025 at Floral Hills Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens.

A Graveside will conclude services at 11:00 AM, Saturday, September 13, 2025 at Floral Hills Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens.