Lawrence William Hamtil, M.D.

Lawrence William Hamtil, MD, 79, of Leawood, Kansas, son of Lawrence Edward and Jovita Sylvia Hamtil (St. Louis, Missouri), passed away, peacefully at his home, surrounded by his family and fortified by the sacraments of the Holy Catholic Church on June 29, 2016. Lawrence was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter Angelita Barbee Hamtil. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Margaret (Peggy Jo Barbee) Hamtil, of 53 years, his children Sean Hamtil (Donis), Maureen Cleary (Jim), Heather Hamtil, Bridget Miller (Brad), Amie Hamtil, Brendan Hamtil (Maria), Therese Talarico (Mike), Laura Estudillo (Bobby) and Lawrence Hamtil (Renata). He also leaves behind 40 beautiful grandchildren whom he loved so dearly, his sisters and many dear nieces and nephews.

Lawrence was a graduate of Saint Louis University and the University of Missouri Medical School. It was during his medical education at MU that he met the love of his life. He completed his medical internship at St. John’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, followed by his surgical residency in Ophthalmology at MU. He held state and district medical licenses in Missouri, Washington D. C., California, Minnesota and Kansas. He viewed medicine as an art, helping God with his surgical skill and talent. He thoroughly loved being a physician, speaking with his patients and learning about each soul who came to him. The time he spent sometimes made him run behind, but he believed nothing was more important than the person before him.

Lawrence was a brilliant mind and knew Latin and Greek, fluently. He loved learning about the beautiful world God created, and he enjoyed teaching his children about everything. While Lawrence was a talented pediatric ophthalmologist and surgeon who studied at Childrens Hospital in Washington, D.C (under the direction of Marshall Parks, MD and Frank Costenbader, MD, both credited with being the fathers of pediatric ophthalmology), Johns Hopkins and Mayo Clinic, his greatest love was his Faith, learning and loving the God who created him. Proudly, he served his country on active duty in the Army Medical Corps during the Vietnam War, and he treated the wounded upon their return to the United States.

Most important to him was his Catholic Faith, and his family. He knew the value of suffering and the infinite price of a soul. He believed that suffering is not in vain, united with the suffering with Christ on the Cross. He suffered without complaint for many years from the effects of Parkinson’s. He offered up all the suffering that he would endure for the salvation of the souls of his family so that one day we would all be united in Heaven for eternity.

We thank his doctors and nurses who gave him such great care over the years. We thank also the priests who went out of their way to ensure he was administered the Sacraments. Special thanks go to Gentiva Hospice and the Sisters, Servants of Mary for their gentle care and consideration in his final days.

Visitation will be Wednesday, July 6, from 6:00p.m. to 8:00p.m., a Rosary will be prayed at 7:00p.m., at the McGilley State Line Chapel. Requiem Mass will be offered on Thursday, July 7, at 10:00a.m., at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 3104 Flora Ave., Kansas City, MO 64109. Burial in the Sacred Heart Garden of Mt. Olivet Catholic Cemetery, Kansas City, MO. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Sisters, Servants of Mary, 800 North 18th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66102. In your charity, please pray for the repose of his soul and for strength of his family at this time.

Please offer condolences online at www.mcgilleystatelinechapel.com. Arr: McGilley State Line Chapel, 12301 State Line Rd., Kansas City, MO 64145, (816)942-6180.