Fred J. Atchity, Jr.

Fred was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1947 to Fred and Myrza Atchity. He had an older brother, and three younger sisters. Their Lebanese and Cajun heritage meant that they grew up with a wonderful tradition of Mediterranean and Southern-style cuisine.

As a boy, Fred played 3&2 Baseball and held a record for most tickets sold, and he continued to play baseball while attending Rockhurst High School. A talented catcher, he was offered a baseball scholarship to Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, which he chose over a competing offer to play Minor League Baseball.

While at LSU, Fred met fellow student Janifer Mathews. They were married in 1968. They would go on to have four children together, and remained married for 44 years.

Fred graduated from LSU in 1969 with a BS Degree in Accounting and moved back to Kansas City. He started his career as a CPA and in the Missouri National Guard. He later started his own Financial Planning and Investment firm and his client base included professional athletes from both the Royals and Chiefs.

In 1986, Fred moved his family to Los Angeles and became an early mover in the home video industry. He would later manage successful wireless cable and petroleum-based lubrication businesses before retiring at age 57. Though retired, he occasionally lectured at university business schools.

While living in Kansas City, Fred would spend summer weekends playing overhand softball or water skiing at Lake Lotawana. He was an avid golfer, and took that hobby with him to Los Angeles. He also loved to play cards (especially gin rummy) and liar’s dice with his friends and family.

Fred married Cheryl Kauffman in February 2018, where he made his entrance on a camel while dressed in Mardi Gras attire. In his last months they traveled to the Middle East, and Fred achieved a lifelong dream of visiting Lebanon.

Fred was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Andrea McKeown. He leaves behind his older brother Ken, and his sisters Mary Calhoun and Laurie Atchity-Dressman. He is survived by his wife Cheryl Kauffman, his children Matt, Mark, Amy Zarecor and Sara Billings and their mother Jan, his children-in-law Shauna, Mark Billings, Justin Zarecor, Jennifer Martin, and his seven grandchildren, Anthony, Kathryn, Gabriel, Ben, Annabel, Jackson and Lincoln. His family and friends will always remember his generosity, his sense of humor, his adventurous spirit, his terrific storytelling, and his many achievements.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday, July 30 at Curé of Ars Church, 9401 Mission Rd., Leawood KS, burial in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Raytown MO. Wake 2pm to 4pm Sunday, July 29 at McGilley Funeral Home, 12301 State Line Rd., KCMO.