Gertrude E. Mahaffey

Gertrude E. Mahaffey, 98, of Richmond, TX formerly of Springfield, IL, died at 10:00 pm, Thursday, January 26, 2017 at Clayton Oaks. She was born May 4, 1918 in New London, IA to Roy and Florence (Collins) Foggy. She was preceded in death by her parents, one son Gene Mahaffey, an infant grandson, five sisters, one brother, and two nephews. She is survived by two sons: Michael (Judy) Mahaffey of Portland, OR and Kent C. (Pat) Mahaffey of Richmond, TX, one daughter, Kathryn (Roger Muncy) Mahaffey of Springfield, IL; daughter-in-law, Donna Allen (wife of Gene) of St. Simon’s Island, GA; eight grandchildren: Lana (Stephen) Muenster, Kristin (David) Van Hoose, Jason (Jennifer) and Tyler (fiancee’ Elayna ) Muncy, Rick and Kevin (Debbie) Whitmore, and K.C. (Leah), Michael (Lacy), and Mark (Lisa) Mahaffey, ten great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Hy Dooha, sister-in-law, Edith Foggy and several nieces and one nephew. Gertrude graduated from New London High School in 1936. Gertrude’s greatest joy and source of pride was her family. She would tell you her most important accomplishment was raising four children who grew up to live on three different coasts with one in the midwest. In her spare time, she enjoyed bridge clubs, shopping, and bowling, earning several league awards for high scores. She loved to watch birds and use watercolors to paint them with butterflies, passing this creativity on to many of her children and grandchildren. In her later years, she enjoyed bingo and was known for her spunky sayings and rhymes. During her entire life she enjoyed music and loved to dance. Even when her memory began to fade she still recognized songs played at the “dawn dances” she and her sister Marie went to as youths in Iowa. She met Kent Mahaffey at one of those dances. They married in 1941 and had four children. They later divorced. He preceded her in death. Gertrude spent most of her adult life in Raytown, a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, and lived for a time in Galesburg, Illinois when Kent was transferred there for his job. Upon retirement, they returned to Raytown. Gertrude moved to Springfield, IL in 2009. There she met her good friend, Robert Janney in 2013. He survives. In December 2017, she moved to Richmond, TX. The family would like to thank the kind staff at Brenden Gardens, and the compassionate caregivers from Heart and Hands in Springfield and at Clayton Oaks Assisted Living in Richmond for the excellent care she received. The family will receive friends from 10:30 am until the Celebration of Life at 11:00 am on Saturday, May 6, 2017 at Blue Ridge Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to either the Illinois Audubon Society, illinoisaudubon.org, or the Blue Ridge Methodist Church, 5055 Blue Ridge Blvd, Kansas City, MO, 64133. Condolences may be left at www.floralhillsfuneralhome.com. Arr.: D.W. Newcomer's Sons Floral Hills Funeral Home, 7000 Blue Ridge Blvd., KCMO 64133 (816) 353-1218.