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Obituary for
Virginia Ann (Carey) DeCoursey
(1924 - 2011)

Virginia was the daughter of Thomas and Barbara (Kennedy) Carey. She was born in Kansas City, Kansas. In 1946 she married Joseph A. DeCoursey, son of Francis C. and Kate (Cotter) DeCoursey. Virginia and Joe had seven children, and lived their lives in Kansas. Virginia published a book called "Ever This Night", a Lizzie Borden style murder mystery. It is quite a page turner if I recall correctly! Related Items: Obituaries for her husband Joseph A.. Obituary for her son, Thomas, and grandson, Connor, and a newspaper article concerning Thomas from 1967.

Kansas City Star (Kansas City, Missouri) Tuesday, January 4, 2011 VIRGINIA ANN DeCOURSEY DeCOURSEY Virginia Ann Carey DeCoursey, 86, Lakeview Village, Lenexa, Ks., passed away Sunday, January 2, 2011, at Menorah Medical Center. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, January 6, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 9150 Pflumm Rd., Lenexa, Ks., where friends may call beginning at 9:30 a.m. Luncheon will follow Mass with burial in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, KCK, following luncheon. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the University of St. Mary, 4100 S. 4th St., Leavenworth , Ks. 66048. Mrs. DeCoursey was born in Kansas City, Ks., on April 2, 1924, to Thomas and Barbara (Kennedy) Carey. While a student at Bishop Ward High School, fellow classmate, Joseph A. DeCoursey, asked to look at her paper and was emphatically told," No," but he was captivated and the two were married in 1946. They quickly moved to Oklahoma City and then to Wichita, where Mr. DeCoursey was involved with his family's dairy business. Her insatiable curiosity for knowledge was only fueled by the days she spent at St. Mary College in Leavenworth. The Sisters of Charity instilled a love of words and writing in Virginia that would inspire her to become a published author; first at Hallmark Cards and later as a novelist, in her own right. Because of her lifelong love affair with the written word, she went onto mentor numerous others in their writing efforts. Her inquisitiveness spilled over into so many other arenas. Virginia could speak Latin fluently, did the NY Times crossword every day, loved conspiracy theories (she read the entire Warren Report) and was a fierce competitor, especially when it came to tournament bridge and Jeopardy. She was a witty charmer, who took a genuine interest in those around her and was able to draw the most interesting anecdotes from young and old. Virginia had a particular ability to connect with children and to motivate them through her wonderful imagination and sense of fun. Through the years, Virginia and Joe watched their family grow to include seven children, Barbara Roy (Lucien), St. Louis, Mo., Jean Lowe (Dennis), Leawood, Ks., Margaret Landolt (Joseph), Labadie, Mo., Joseph A. DeCoursey (Ruth), Blue Springs, Mo., Mark P. DeCoursey (Angela), Lenexa, Ks., Charles F. DeCoursey (Cara), Leawood and Thomas C. DeCoursey (Susan DeCoursey Grumbles), who, along with his son, Connor, predeceased his parents. Virginia's husband, Joe and sister, Barbara Carey, also preceded her in death. In addition to her devoted children, she also leaves her grandchildren, John Roy, Sara and Joe DeCoursey, Andrew, Bridget and Emily Lowe, Tom DeCoursey, Mary Catherine and Molly Landolt, Sam, Nick and Megan DeCoursey, Ann DeCoursey and great-granddaughter, Airyanna Hardin DeCoursey. (Arr.: Joseph A. Butler & Son Funeral Home, 19th & Minnesota Ave., KCK, 913- 371-7000; butlerandsonfuneralhome.com) Online obituary and guest book. (Until Jan. 4, 2012)

Transcribed by Erica DeCoursey 2011