Kansas City Funeral Directors

Terry John Breck

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Terry John Breck

Terry John Breck, 75, of Overland Park, Kansas passed away on January 22, 2019, surrounded by his family and friends.

Visitation will be 10 am with Mass at 11 am on January 29, 2019 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 11311 Johnson Drive, Shawnee, KS. Burial to follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Shawnee, KS. Memorial gifts may be made in Terry's name to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research(michaeljfox.org) or the Parkinson's Foundation Heartland Chapter, 8900 State Line Rd.,  Ste. 320, Leawood, KS 66206

Terry was born at Providence Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas to Nicholas and Theresa (Humpa) Breck. He attended St. Joseph High School in Shawnee where he excelled in scholastic as well as a variety of non-sports activities.

Terry attended Rockhurst College for one year before moving on at the age of 19 to a career in the United States Navy. He stayed with the Navy for 24 years before retiring as a Master Chief Petty Officer. His specialty was naval electronics, his favorite submarine electronics. As a sharpshooter on the Naval Pistol Team, Terry garnered numerous trophies over many years. He traveled the world and his daughter, Teresa was born in Naples, Italy, in 1967 while his family was stationed there.

After his career in the Navy, Terry went to work for Lockheed Martin in customer support until he retired. There he managed a team responsible for calibrating all instrumentation on atomic submarines when in dock after returning from duty.

His hobbies growing up and through life were many. He attained Eagle Scout rank; loved any outdoor activity from camping, boating and fishing to rock climbing. He fancied collecting knives and carving the handles into beautiful unique designs. He was an excellent wood worker. Of all his hobbies, reading was his passion and stayed with him all his life. He would read anything of great depth. As a high school student he loved the Great Books of the Western World. As he grew, his passion of books led him into the love of church theology. He used to refer to his favorite author, St. Thomas Aquinas. He collected Bibles of all translations with the most beautiful bindings. Admirers of those beautiful Bibles would often become their owners. He loved his books and even more loved gifting them to his friends.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Joyce and his father, Nicholas Breck. He is survived by his mother, Theresa; wife of 10 years, Dolores (DeMeese); brothers, Rodney of KCK and Greg (Linda) of Overland Park, KS; daughters, Teresa Maggart (Clark) and Virginia Breck; son Joseph Breck (Donna); four grandchildren, Jonathan Breck (Maria), Jared Breck, Caleb Maggart and Noah Maggart, as well as two great grandsons Jordon and Mason Terry Breck.

Timothy Gene Elliott

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Timothy Gene Elliott

Timothy Gene Elliott, 59 of Overland Park, Kansas, died after a long-fought battle with brain cancer January 19, 2019, at Kansas City Hospice House. He was born December 5, 1959, in McPherson, Kansas, the son of Gene and Rhonda Elliott.

Tim grew up in Hutchinson, graduating from Hutchinson High School in 1978 as a State Champion wrestler his senior year. During that time he set up his first business venture with a friend, The Cracker Shack, which was a popular spot for buying fireworks. He moved on to the University of Kansas and became a brother in the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Earning his undergraduate degree in business in 1982, he followed that up with Juris Doctor (JD) in law in 1985. He worked hard to become a highly respected attorney and served his clients as long as he was able.

A lifelong KU fan, he enjoyed attending basketball and football games to cheer on the Jayhawks. He was also a passionate supporter of both the Royals and Chiefs. Tim married the love of his life, Stephanie Witt, in 1986. After living and working in Topeka for a bit, they settled in Overland Park. In addition to Stephanie's children Alicia and Jordan Billings, they grew their family by adding Megan (Elliott) Machen and Michael Elliott to the clan.

Tim was an Eagle Scout and remained involved in Boy Scouts and Venture Crew throughout the years. He was also a devoted member of Ascension Catholic Church and gave back to the community by serving at the food kitchen and through the prison ministry.

He was diagnosed with an oligodendroglioma brain tumor in May of 2008. Mere months after his first surgery, he became involved in Kansas City Head for the Cure and participated in a 5K fundraiser. Over the next 10 years, Tim passionately raised money for brain cancer research through Team Elliott. He also served as a member of the board since 2017 and was one of their biggest supporters. In April 2018, he participated in a clinical trial using 5-ALA as an optical imaging agent prior to surgery to light up the tumor for improved tissue removal so he could help others in his situation after he was gone.

Tim is preceded by his mother Rhonda, brother-in-law CE Witt, and mother-in-law Bobbie Witt. Surviving in addition to his wife Stephanie and father Gene, are his siblings Kip Elliott and wife Polly of Nashville and Jodee (Elliott) Bowen and husband Kevin of Hutchinson; father-in-law Cecil Witt and wife Karen of Russell; children Alicia Billings and husband Toby Mitchell of Newport, Oregon, Jordan Billings and wife Heather of Olathe, Megan (Elliott) Machen and husband Ben of Overland Park, and son Michael Elliott of Overland Park; and grandchildren Audrey Billings, Olive Mitchell, Elliott Machen, and Hudson Machen. He has a large extended family full many nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters in-law.

A service of remembrance will be held at Ascension Catholic Church in Overland Park on Thursday, January 24. There will be a rosary at 8:30 am, visitation from 9-10 , mass at 10 am with a luncheon at the church to follow. The interment will take place at 1 pm in the Holy Family Mausoleum at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa. All are welcome to a celebration of life at Johnny's Tavern at 95th and Antioch from 5-8 pm. Those who wish to remember Tim in a special way may donate in his memory to Head for the Cure, please click here. 

Paul Tyler Upton

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Paul Tyler Upton

Paul Tyler Upton passed away on January 7, 2019, at the young age of 28. Paul will be lovingly remembered and survived by his parents Hershel (Dwayne) and Pam Upton, his brother Landan Upton, his 2-year-old son Carter Upton, and fiancé Melane Foster. Paul will also be always remembered by his maternal grandparents, niece, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Paul was known for his phenomenal truck driving, his love for cars and trucks, and numerous hobbies. He loved to work, and he was quite the smooth talker and had an entrepreneur mentality. Paul was the family’s baby and he could put a smile on your face no matter the situation, needless to say, he was always easily forgiven. He will truly be loved and missed and was taken from us too soon.

Eugene G. Guerra

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EUGENE G. GUERRA

12-08-1958 ~ 01-02-2019

“Ride Hard, Live Free”

Melana Marie Cooke

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Melana Marie (Sumonia) Cooke

Melana Marie (Sumonia) Cooke, 85, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away Sunday, Dec. 30, 2018, at Glenwood Village Home Health in Overland Park, Kansas.
She was born July 4, 1933, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Milan Sumonia and Mae (Strika) Sumonia, who preceded her in death. On April 17, 1953, she married Louis Cooke.

Melana worked for a number of companies including Marion Merrell Dow, Folgers coffee and as a paralegal. In retirement she remainedbusy, working part-time at a local Hallmark store and volunteering at Ten Thousand Villages and Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. She was also a worthy advisor for the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. She was known for her green thumb and her love of reading. Melana was a Johnson County Master Gardener and she and Louis transformed their backyard, filling the entire space with flowers, bushes, vegetable plants, a large fish pond with water lilies and even a playhouse for their grandchildren. When she wasn’t getting her hands dirty in the garden, she had her nose in a book from the library, a trait she passed on to her family.

She and Louis also loved to round dance, traveling across the country to do so.In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons, Randy (Ann) Cooke, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, and Gary (Kathy) Cooke, of Elk Grove Village, Illinois; one sister, Katherine Rogers, of West Point, Georgia, and four grandchildren, Nicole, Laura, Brian and Kerry. She is also preceded in death by two brothers, Milan Sumonia Jr. and Duke Sumonia.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, at St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church, 12251 Antioch Road, Overland Park, Kansas, 66213. Burial will follow at Johnson County Memorial Gardens for immediate family only.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Great Plains SPCA or the Alzheimer’s Association.
Arrangements are under the direction of Kansas City Funeral Directors.