Wauneta Ruth Mushaney Kirby, age 94, passed away peacefully at the Kansas City Hospice House on September 30, 2026. Wauneta was born to Ettie and Louis Mushaney in Nevada, Missouri on August 19, 1932. She was the only girl with 6 brothers in her family.
At age 17, Wauneta moved to Kansas City to begin a job with Katz Drugs working the candy counter. One day, in walked Clarence Kirby. Clarence had a particular fondness for orange slices and made many frequent trips to the candy counter. Not only did he like the "sweet" treat of the orange slices but he liked the even "sweeter" lady behind the counter. Their story began at that candy counter and they were wed on June 18, 1950 in Independence, MO. Together, they had 3 children- Dale, Dean and Sandra. Wauneta devoted herself to her family. When the children began school, she went to work for Reider's Grocery which eventually became Milgram's Grocery. She worked there for 25 years until she retired.
Wauneta's passion in life was cooking and baking. She collected many cookbooks. She would spend hours looking through the books to decide what recipes she would try. Her family was fortunate to be on the receiving end of those recipes. She was a wonderful cook and baker and she took great pride in pleasing her family with her creations. Some of her family's fondest memories were the aromas that wafted out of her kitchen.
Wauneta would tell you though, her biggest delight in life was her family. She deeply loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was and always will be, the heart of her family.
Wauneta was a longtime member of Blue Ridge Baptist Temple. Wauneta's faith was an important part of her life and she beautifully displayed Christ through her sweet and gentle spirit. Wauneta was known to everyone as the sweetest lady ever with the biggest and prettiest smile.
Wauneta was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Ettie Mushaney, her husband, Clarence C. Kirby, her brothers, Clarence Mushaney, Wayne Mushaney, Donald Mushaney, Kenneth Mushaney, Glen Mushaney, Harvey Mushaney, 3 infant siblings, Marvin Lee, lvema and Lonny Ray and her granddaughter Kelsie Wisner. She leaves behind her children, Dale {Lorraine) Kirby of Granite Bay, CA, Dean {Kristie) Kirby of Lee's Summit, MO and Sandra {Randal) of Lee's Summit, MO. Her grandchildren Jeffrey Kirby, Christi (Josh) Kulkin, Melissa Riske, Katie (Jared) Hammons, Angela (Michael) Pemoud and Brian (Jennifer) Freeborn and many great grandchildren.
A huge thank you to all the staff at The Princeton Senior Living. Wauneta thoroughly enjoyed her 4½ years of living there. Our family would also like to extend our sincere appreciation and gratitude to the professionals at the Kansas City Hospice House for taking such wonderful care of our mother and "Nana" in such a dignified manner in her final days. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Kansas City Hospice House, 9001 State Line Rd, Suite 300 Kansas City, MO. 64114-9918.
Visitation will be Thursday, October 8, 2026 at 9:00am with the funeral to follow at 10:00am at Newcomer's Floral Hills Funeral Home. Interment will be at Floral Hills East Cemetery, Lee's Summit, MO.
Arrangements by Newcomer's Floral Hills 7000 Blue Ridge Blvd., Kansas City, MO. 64133.
