William Henderson

Larna Henderson

Cremation Center of Kansas City

Diana Dargan

Livingston Cremation and Funeral Care

Larna Sue Henderson died from Alzheimer’s disease on June 11, 2024, at the age of 87. Born to Elmer and Letha Smyers, Larna Sue grew up on the family farm in Wheatland, Oklahoma.  In high school, her family moved to a farm near Altoona, Kansas.  She graduated from Altoona High School and then attended the University of Missouri—Kansas City where she studied concert piano.  Larna Sue met Wilbur Henderson in Kansas City, Missouri; they were married in Emporia, Kansas on December 30, 1963.  Larna Sue and Wilbur had three children: Ro, Will, and Kirby.  After Wilbur graduated from seminary in 1967, they served at several churches in eastern Kansas including Le Roy, Caney, Robinson, and Chanute.  In 1986, the family moved to Baldwin City, Kansas, where Wilbur took a position with Baker University.  Larna Sue was active in the Baldwin City community.  She participated in P.E.O., Tuesday Reading Club, the Silent Chocolate Auction, Arts Council, and other groups.  Larna Sue was an active and life-long member of the United Methodist Church.
Larna Sue’s faith was tremendously important to her and undoubtedly played a role in her falling for the Seminarian soon-to-be Reverend Wilbur Henderson.  Larna Sue relished the ability to be active in all the churches Wilbur served. She participated in chancel choirs, bell choirs, played the organ and piano, and led Sunday and vacation bible schools.  She was a wonderful hostess, entertaining friends and parishioners in her home.  She was well-known for her ability to seemingly conjure a pie out of nowhere, tabbouleh salad, and family favorite: mushroom salad.  Larna Sue was fulfilled by supporting those in need—in and out of the Church.  She was blessed with an innate ability to find the right words of comfort or encouragement in nearly any situation. She exhibited a genuine interest in others and celebrated other peoples’ diversity, gifts, and talents.  She was open-minded and accepting, and routinely sought out and engaged those on the fringes or going unnoticed at social events or similar situations.
A love of the classical arts was deeply rooted in Larna Sue.  She bought her own piano in high school (still played today by her granddaughter Sloane), regularly visited the Nelson Adkins Museum over the years, studied concert piano in college, and had a lifetime of attending symphonies, Starlight Theater, national and local musical productions, and countless other performances.  Larna Sue also loved painting throughout her life and was able to paint well into her Alzheimer’s diagnosis, contributing a painting to the Alzheimer’s Association Memories in the Making Art Auction.
Larna Sue never left the house not fully put together, even if that meant rushing out the door late.  Everything had its place and was in order. Under the well-dressed and polished exterior, she was a person of grit, confidence, and tenacity.  She grew up on farms and tended to the animals.  She was an accomplished horsewoman and by the age of eighteen, she had amassed her own herd of Hereford cattle.  She sold the herd and used the proceeds to buy a train ticket and moved to Kansas City on her own after her high school graduation in 1954.  She established herself in Kansas City, obtained a job in a medical office on the Country Club Plaza, and enrolled at UMKC.  She was a constant in the hot, dusty stands as her kids showed steers and horses, usually arriving in her own car to avoid the grit and grime, but after Wilbur's death, she was back behind the wheel of a truck pulling a horse trailer to stock shows.  She never shied from a challenge and raised and nurtured Ro and Will through adolescence and young adulthood on her own.
In later years, she enthusiastically and lovingly embraced her role as “Mema” to Paige and Sloane. She was always available at a moment’s notice to drive into Prairie Village to babysit a sick granddaughter.  She was an incredible help when for several months she drove into Prairie Village from Baldwin City every Monday to pick Paige up from daycare, feed her, and put her to bed due to Will and Kelly’s work schedules.  Larna Sue was always a “yes” to the question “Can you babysit?”.
Larna Sue moved in with her children in 2013 due to advancing Alzheimer’s.  She accepted her diagnosis with grace and dignity, always with a positive outlook and smile. She lived with her children for several years before moving to memory care at Care Haven Homes.   The family extends a special thank you to the caregivers at Care Haven and Elara Hospice for the care and love provided to Larna Sue.
Larna Sue was preceded in death by her husband, son Kirby, parents, brother Geron, and numerous extended family.  She is survived by Ro Henderson and husband Gary Doolittle, Will and Kelly Henderson, granddaughters Paige and Sloane Henderson, and step-grandchildren Charlie, Mary, and Hank Doolittle.
Funeral arrangements are pending for late Summer or Fall.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to KU Endowment for the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., Mail Stop 3012, Kansas City, KS  66160. Gifts can also be made online. Please indicate that donations are made in memory of Larna Sue Henderson.  Alternatively, memorials are welcome at your local United Methodist Church.

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Larna Henderson Obituary | Cremation Center of Kansas City