Bertha D. Bouyear

Bertha Duncan Bouyear, 105, passed away September 18, 2015 at her home in Pleasant Hill, MO. A visitation will be Saturday, September 26, 2015 from 10 to 11 am, followed by the service at 11 am, at Muehlebach Funeral Home, 6800 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO. Interment will be at Mt. Washington Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Serenity Care Hospice in Harrisonville, MO or to a charity of the donors choice. Bertha was born to Albert and Magnolia (Rhodes) Duncan July 30, 1910 in Madison County, Arkansas, the second of nine children. Her family moved to Watts, Oklahoma when Bertha was five years old. She grew up and attended school in Watts where she met her husband, William "Bill" Bouyear. She married Bill on July 17, 1927. They had three children, Lura, Kenneth and Norman. The family moved to Kansas City in 1935 when Bill transferred there while working for the Kansas City Southern Railroad. Bertha worked as a seamstress and spent 30 years working at Nelly Don dress factory. She kept close ties with the family in Oklahoma, traveling frequently to visit, sharing Nelly Don dresses with the women and hosting, in her own home, younger members of the family who wanted to move to Kansas City. She was a member of Bethany Baptist Church where she was active in pre-school classes. She was widowed in 1960 when Bill was struck down by an aneurysm and remained a widow the rest of her life. In 1994, she moved to Pleasant Hill to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Lura and Harvey Hempfling. She loved and was loved by all who knew her. She had a sweet and generous soul. She is survived by her daughter, Lura Hempfling, of the home, her sister, Nola Mae Graham of Freson, CA, her brother, Donald (Shirley) Duncan of Heavener, OK, daughter-in-law, Jane Bouyear, eight grandchildren; Patricia L. Harvey of the home, Michael B. (JoAnn) Hempfling of St. Louis, MO, John E. Hempfling of the home, Leslie A. Cobb of Gladstone, MO, Kathleen M. Beltz of Independence, MO, Katherine Wooldridge of Carthage, MO, Norman Jean Mora of Independence, MO and William J. Bouyear of Independence, MO. She is also survived by 17 great-grandchildren, notably, Danielle Espinosa, who she helped to raise, as well as 25 great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Predeceasing her were her husband, William Allison Bouyear, her parents, brothers; Earl (Edna) Duncan, Austin (Vera) Duncan, Dempsey (Reta) Duncan and Archie (Lois) Duncan, her sisters, Dorothy (Val Harrison and Artie (Jim) Boyd, brother-in-law, Norwood Graham, her sons, Kenneth (Mickey) Bouyear and Norman (Joyce) Bouyear, her son-in-law, Harvey Hempfling, grandsons, David and Donal Bouyear and a great-granddaughter, Michelle Betz.


SERVICES Visitation
Saturday, September 26, 2015 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Muehlebach Chapel 6800 Troost Avenue Kansas City, Missouri 64131
Funeral Service
Saturday, September 26, 2015 11:00 AM
Muehlebach Chapel 6800 Troost Avenue Kansas City, Missouri 64131