Lucille Piper

Mrs. Lucille Piper (Rains) died peacefully on January 14, 2015 at Kansas City Hospice House In Kansas City, MO after a lengthy illness. Her daughter, Diana Jean Bailey, and sister, Evelyn Keller, were with her at the time of her death. Lucille was 80 years of age. She was born on August 1, 1934 in Cedar County, MO to parents Alpha and James Alva Rains during the depression and grew up on the family farm near Humansville, MO. At age 17, she married Ralph Donald Piper, a Korean War solder, on October 5, 1951 in Harrison, AR while he was on leave. They remained married for 48 years until Ralph's death in 1999. The had three children Diana, Donald and Alpha Denise. After the war, Lucille and Ralph relocated to Kansas City, eventually buying a home in the suburb of Avondale, MO where they lived most of their lives together. Lucille, who had worked through high school as a telephone operator in Humansville, went on to work as a waitress for many years. The last few years, however, she had worked for the North Kansas City School District in their Adventurers Program where she loved working with small grade school children. Lucille, often called just Lucy, loved to cook. At home, she was usually found in the kitchen preparing pies, breads, or her special red velvet cake, or mountains of fried chicken. She loved holiday dinners with her children and grand-children. She enjoyed gardening and maintained a backyard vegetable garden. Her yard always filled with flowers. Lucille was preceded in death by her parents; husband Ralph. She is survived by daughters Diana Jean Bailey and her husband Robert Wayne of North Kansas City, Missouri, and Alpha Denise Chesney and her husband Gregg of Smithville, Missouri; son Donald Wayne Piper of Kansas City, Missouri; grandchildren Vanessa Dawn and Jason Maurath, Alpha Christine Chesney, Alison Chesney; great-grandchildren Makayla Dawn Maurath and Oliver Reece Maurath; sisters Evelyn Keller of Flemington, Betty Hughes and her husband Vincent of Humansville, Kathy Reser and her husband Keith of Springfield; sisters-in-law Lavonna Jolly of Humansville, Joyce Rains of Quincy, Missouri, Margaret Rains and Cyntha Rains of Bolivar; brother-in-law David Piper of Humansville; and a host of nieces and nephews. Gravesite services will be held 1:00 PM Sunday, January 18, 2015 in the Humansville Cemetery, Humansville, Missouri officiated by Rev. Doug Parma under the direction of Murray Funeral Home, Humansville. Memorials are suggested to the Kansas City Hospice House, 12000 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO 64145. Online condolences may be submitted at www.murrayfuneralhomes.com. PDF Printable Version

Lucille Piper

August 1, 1934 - January 14, 2015