Nancy Carnes

She was born Nancy Ann Bodwell on May 28, 1933 to Don and Ruth Bodwell in Kansas City, MO. She attended Bryant Grade School and Southwest High School graduating in 1951. Nancy was on the honor roll each semester and member of the National Honor Society. She furthered her education by attending the University of Kansas and then Randolph Women’s College in in Lynchburg, VA, graduating in 1955 with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a minor in Psychology. At Randolph Macon she became a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority and was elected to the Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.

After college she was a member of the Belles of the American Royal (BOTAR) class of 1955 and joined the Kansas City, MO Junior League in 1963 where she maintained her sustaining membership. She held many board positions including Treasure of BOTAR and Chairman of Junior League Finance Committee. Nancy worked at Hallmark with Mr. J.C. Hall and was instrumental in the development of their line of party goods. She was also employed at Halls Department Store as a buyer and First National Bank as a secretary to the Commercial and Trust departments.

During this time, she met the love of her life, James Edgar Carnes. They were married on April 20, 1963 and lived in Kansas City for the past 54 years raising their two children, Jim and Julie. In almost 54 years of marriage they were apart for less than fifteen days.

Nancy was an avid volunteer and donated her time to many organizations: Children’s Mercy Hospital Relief Association, Children’s Mercy Auxiliary, Pi Beta Phi Alumnae (officer), Crippled Children’s Nursery School Auxiliary, Friends of Art at Nelson Art Gallery, Nelson Art Gallery Docent, Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired, KC Historical Foundation, United Way, Mercy Hospital Golf Classic, Junior Women’s Philharmonic, Sewing Group at the Country Club Christian Church, and served as a Wornall House Docent. She also served on the PTA boards in various capacities for Highlands Elementary, Indian Hills Junior High and Shawnee Mission East schools as well as the Shawnee Mission Board of Education. Nancy was a member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Janet Boone Service Club, University Club and Carriage Club.

Nancy was a most delightful, thoughtful and caring person. She always tried to be positive and see the best in people. Nancy was a dedicated card writer (one of Hallmark Card’s best customers) and loved to correspond with her friends and family. She enjoyed lunching with her friends and catching up on current events and their families. Nancy was an animal lover and had special relationships with the dogs in her life. Nancy was an avid KU Jayhawk basketball fan, never missing a televised game.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Don and Ruth Bodwell, as well as her siblings and their spouses: Sarah Fritz (Bill), Ted Bodwell (Mickey), Barbara Nottberg (Henry), Betty Pitman (Ray) and Joan Dicker (Ralph).

She was survived by her husband, James Edgar Carnes and her two children, James Robert Carnes (Melissa) and Julie Carnes Hessenflow (Greg). She totally adored her six grandchildren: Oliver, Henry and Marin Carnes and Claire, Paige and Grace Hessenflow. They were the greatest joys of her life and fondly called her “Gee”. She enjoyed baking them cookies for just about any occasion and attending their school, athletic and social events. She also has many nieces and nephews whom she cared for dearly and she cherished the special relationship she had with the Bunting family. Nancy liked to travel with her family to Colorado, Florida and Chicago. She loved being a part of social events and the opportunity to be with old friends and meet new ones.

Services will be held on Wednesday, January 18th at 3 P.M. at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church (6401 Wornall Terrace, KCMO 64113). There will be a private family burial following the services.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Wayside Waifs (3901 Martha Truman Rd, Grandview, MO 64137), Due West Therapeutic Riding Center (13400 Donahoo Road, KC, KS 66109) or the BOTAR Scholarship Fund (5960 Dearborn, Suite 212, Mission, KS 66202).