Gertrude Irene Mendenhall, 86, passed away Tuesday April 14, 2015, in Springfield.
She had spent the past two months under medical care in Springfield after living in Kansas City for 40 years. Earlier she had lived in Springfield, where she was a co-founder of Carnahan Fence Co. and Springfield Aluminum Co.
Born in 1928 in Macks Creek, MO to Ethan and Pearl Morris, Gertrude grew up as the oldest of seven children on 400 acres of wooded farm where she learned to love all of nature, but birds and flowers in particular.
Gertrude was predeceased by husband Victor Mendenhall, to whom she was married for 37 years. Earlier she was married to Garnett Carnahan for 25 years.
She is survived by four children and four step-children. Children: Kathryn Munzinger (Jeff); Kenneth Carnahan; Gerald Carnahan (Alecia); and Cindy Byrd (John). Stepchildren: Jan Parker; Shelia Williamson (Gary); Brad Mendenhall; and Marsha Lyle (Ron).
Other survivors include brothers Tom Morris (Linnie), Pleasant Hope, and Stanley Morris (Helen), Springfield; and sister Joyce Kennedy (Joe), Laquey. She was predeceased by brothers Franklin, Carl and Ross Morris.
Gertrude was grandmother to 14 and great-grandmother to 24.
Gertrude had a big heart, with special concern for developmentally handicapped children, including her adopted daughter and a stepson, who she raised with love and special care. She and her husband, Vic, helped start a Kansas City thrift store to benefit people with special needs.
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 17 at Greenlawn Funeral Home South, 441 W. Battlefield.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday April 18 at the funeral home, followed by burial at Macks Creek Cemetery, Macks Creek, MO.
In lieu of flowers, Gertrude asked that donations be made in her name to Special Olympics Missouri, 1001 Diamond Ridge, Suite 800 Jefferson City, MO 65109