Lolit a's Obituary
Lolita Gayle Kumbier was born on September 29, 1944 in Evansville, Indiana and passed away on January 8, 2009 in Independence, Missouri. She overcame much adversity in her life, beginning at an early age. When she was just four years old and living in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, she and three siblings were placed for adoption. It was not long before she and her brother, Buddy, were adopted by loving parents, Arnie and Thelma Kumbier, and moved with them to Philipsburg, Missouri where the two children would spend the remainder of their childhood. She graduated from Philipsburg High School in the Class of 1962. At the age of 17, she married and soon became the mother of her first three children, Jamie, Mark and Janna. Gayle was a loving mother who tended to her children, taking time to read to them, play with them, listen to them and nurture their passions for sports, music, hobbies, and friends. In 1972, she married again and became pregnant with her fourth child, Kaia. Kaia was a welcomed addition to the family, but due to some complications at birth, she spent a few weeks in the hospital. There were certainly other difficult times in Gayle’s life, but her faith in God, love for her family and personal resilience gave her strength to endure and grow through each trial. She was proud to spend many years of her life working as a counselor and writing federal grants for alcohol and drug rehab facilities. Some of her greatest accomplishments in her life included helping others with their difficulties through her compassion, gentleness and loving care. One of her greatest joys was to spend time with her eight grandchildren and one great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Darwin Thurman; and a sister, Doris Lane. Gayle is survived by two sons, Jamie Schaffer, and his wife, Stephanie, of Liberty, Missouri, and Mark Schaffer, and his wife, Astrid, of Ocala, Florida; two daughters, Janna Greenbank, and her husband, Daniel, of Kansas City, Missouri, and Kaia Hagler, of Independence, Missouri; eight grandchildren, Valerie Schaffer, Jordan Greenbank, Taylor Greenbank, Seth Greenbank, Madison Schaffer, Syera Schaffer, Dylan Schaffer, and Nykki Schaffer; a great-grandchild, Riley Higbee; two brothers, Bill Holtz, of St. Louis, Missouri, and Buddy Kumbier Lane, of Joplin, Missouri; a sister, Julie Mathie, of Shawnee, Kansas; a number of nieces and nephews; as well as a host of other relatives and friends. Gayle was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and aunt, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and her accomplishments and will cherish the wonderful memories she created for her family and friends. Services will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday January 12, 2009 at the Holman-Howe Funeral Home Lebanon, Missouri. Burial will be in the New Hope Cemetery near Long Lane, Missouri. Visitation is Sunday evening 4:30-6:00 pm at the funeral home under the direction of the Holman-Howe Funeral Home Lebanon, Missouri. Return to top
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