Michelle Dawn Harper passed away on Tuesday, September, 5, 2017 in Joplin, Missouri at the age of 51.

Michelle is survived by her husband, Jim Harper; son, Seth Harper; and daughter, Emma Harper of Miller, Missouri; parents, Don and Kathy Homrighausen of Overland Park, Kansas; sister in-law, Christine (Harper) Littell and brother in-law, Mark Littell of Edmond, Oklahoma; Brother in-law, Bill Harper and sister in-law, Beth (Potts) Harper of Drexel, Missouri; sister in-law, Megan (Danley) Homrighausen of Kansas City, Missouri; and six nieces, six nephews, two great nephews, and one great niece.

She is preceded in death by her father in-law, William H. Harper III and mother in-law, Barbara A. Harper of Overland Park, Kansas; and brother, David L. Homrighausen of Kansas City, Missouri.
Michelle was born on July 11, 1966 in Okinawa, Japan to Don and Kathy Homrighausen. She graduated from Shawnee Mission West High School in 1984-and from the University of Kansas in 1988, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering. After graduating college she was employed by Dow Chemical, Freeport, Texas for eight years. In 1992 she married her soul mate Jim. The Harpers moved to Miller, Missouri in December 2000. Michelle was a dedicated wife and mother who lovingly homeschooled and raised her children on the family farm.

Michelle's kind and loving ways exemplified her love and faith for the Lord Jesus Christ in all that she did. She was a dedicated and loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. Everyone who knew her would say how selfless she was, always serving other's needs before her own. She lived an ever humble and compassionate life by way of sharing her warmth and love with others. We will always remember her as the ray of sun that she was, and honor her by trying to live as pure and beautifully as she did.

Visitation and Services

Friday, September 8, 2017. Calvary Lutheran Church, 7500 Oak Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64114. Visitation 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., followed by a service at 7:00 p.m. Burial 9:30 a.m., Saturday, September 9, 2017 at Shiloh Cemetery, Miller, Missouri. Officiant, Pastor Bryce Bereuter. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Michelle's life.

Memorial Contributions

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to Calvary Lutheran Church or St. Jude Children's Hospital.