Sandra Kay Henry

Sandi Henry, of Lee’s Summit, MO, passed away March 25 at the age of 77 after unexpected complications from a minor surgery. Sandi was the lucky recipient of a new liver in 2016, a surgery and transplant that added 10 years of love, laughter and time with her beloved family and friends.

Sandi is survived by her daughter, Lindsey Henry-Moss (Jason), her bonus daughters, Amy Tillison and Julie Henry, grandchildren Maren and Lidia Moss, Blake Duff (Brittany), Zach Duff, Drew Duff (Brandi), Ryan Tillison (Alexis), Evan Tillison, as well as great-grandchildren Easton and Ella Duff; and Cohen, Walker and Palmer Duff. She is also survived by her brother, Larry Borcherding, and the extended Borcherding and Monahan families.

She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Larry Henry, her spouse of 45 years who passed in 2019, as well as her parents and brother Harlan Borcherding.

Born in Columbus, Ohio, to Alfred and Ora Borcherding, Sandi ultimately attended Southwest High School in Kansas City (class of 1967), the University of Missouri and the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where she earned a degree in English and education. Sandi taught middle and high school English and literature for more than 30 years at schools in Texas, Nebraska, Indiana and Kansas City as Larry’s career in sales took them all over the country. To have had Mrs. Henry as a teacher meant you got one of the very best. Her innovative assignments, connections to pop culture and music, passion for great literature, and true care and concern for those in her classroom set her apart and kept generations of students in her life.

Larry and Sandi’s journey took them around the nation, from Kansas City to Denton, Texas; Grand Island, Neb.; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Los Angeles; Overland Park, Kan.; Plymouth, Minn., and then full circle back to the Kansas City area, Olathe and finally Lee’s Summit. These moves gave Larry and Sandi the benefit of great friends across many area codes.

Following retirement, Sandi indulged in her favorite pastime of reading and watching her granddaughters play volleyball, soccer and basketball. She was endlessly proud of them and in awe of their accomplishments.

A diehard Royals and Chiefs fan, Sandi counted getting to go a playoff game in the Royals’ miracle 2014 season and then the second game of the World Series in 2015 as lifetime highlights. She never missed a Chiefs game on TV – cheering, cussing and clapping nonstop – and deeply regretted Larry missing the magical Mahomes era.

To know Sandi was to know her cherished animals. Dogs Lance, Silvia, Sami Jo, KC and now Atticus, along with cats Nick, Cleo and Riley, lived their best life with Sandi and Larry. The family requests donations in lieu of flowers to Wayside Waifs or Meals on Wheels of Lee’s Summit, for whom she delivered faithfully every Wednesday.

Sandi’s Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 11, followed by a Celebration of Life at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of the Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO, 64131. Burial in Mount Moriah Cemetery next to Larry will follow immediately after the service.

And finally, as the family did for Larry’s service, the family asks that attendees wear colors (extra points for Sandi’s favorite, yellow) rather than the traditional dark attire to celebrate a life well lived.