Jody Avery-Smith

Jody attended John J. Pershing Elementary and Southeast High schools, meeting her first husband, Phil R. Booser at KCJC, marrying in 1949. They settled in a new development called Prairie Village. In 1966 she was re-married to James A. Avery, also formerly of KC, and they moved to Southern California where she lived until her passing.

Her passion in her early years was modeling, doing much print work and fashion shows for many KC stores. This continued in SoCal, then she transitioned into writing for various local papers, then working in Department Stores, many years with Braille Institute of Los Angeles as head of their publications department, taught grooming to girls in juvenile detention, volunteered with Free Arts for Abused Children, went into publicity and then into real estate sales.

She married Ken Smith in 1994 (who passed on in 2016), and they traveled extensively, one of her lifelong dreams being fulfilled despite her fear of flying.

She continued to be active living alone until this past November, enjoying time with her grandchildren and family, her many friends, engaged in a weekly writing workshop, and was involved in many local Democratic clubs. She was invited to the inauguration of Harry Truman in 1948, but was a little late, attending that of Barack Obama in 2008.

She is the daughter of the late Clarence A. and Helen E. Lockwood. She is survived by her sons Michael Booser (Carolyn) of Westlake Village, CA, and Geoffrey Avery, grandchildren Katie (Booser) Lopez (Ben) of Santa Barbara, CA, Tricia Booser of New York, Taryn (Avery) Bramhall (Joseph), Wesley Avery and great-granddaughter Paige Lopez.

Graveside service is Thursday, July 23, at 11:00 AM at Mount Moriah Cemetery South, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO.