Nancy D. Mcconnell

Nancy D. McConnell, 74, passed away on April 16, 2018 at Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri following an ovarian cancer battle where she exhibited unwavering perseverance.

Nancy was born January 23, 1944 in Manhattan, Kansas to Wendell and Bernice (Patee) Becraft. She graduated from Manhattan High School in 1962, and completed a Bachelors of Arts degree from Kansas State University in 1966. During college, Nancy met her husband and Kansas State basketball player, Bob McConnell. They were married for 46 years at the time of Bob's passing in 2013.

After graduation, Bob and Nancy moved to Overland Park where she began work as a computer programmer for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), one of few women in this profession in the 1960s. After 18 years at the USDA, Nancy transitioned careers to real estate where she earned numerous awards for her successes as a licensed realtor. For 35 years, Nancy worked tirelessly to find and sell homes for her valued clients who described her as a consummate, passionate professional - pragmatic, detail-oriented, witty, and caring.

Bob and Nancy had two daughters, Jamie and Daria. Nancy was determined to instill independence, a strong work ethic, and emphasized the value of lifelong learning in her girls. Her desire to develop well-rounded women was evident by her insistence on exposing her girls to a multitude of activities that would enhance and cultivate spiritual, academic, and athletic growth. Nancy equipped her daughters with every attribute necessary to carry on her legacy. As much as she loved Jamie and Daria, her love multiplied with the birth of each one of her six grandchildren. Her unwavering determination to develop a relationship with each grandchild, despite her illness, became her focus through countless hours at Deanna Rose Farmstead, the Kansas City Zoo, Silver Dollar City, the mountains of Colorado, and many wagered (and lost) games of Chutes and Ladders.

Nancy had numerous other passions devoted to helping those in need, and furthering and improving the amenities of the Overland Park community. As Chairperson of the Deanna Rose Friends of the Farmstead Executive Committee, she was instrumental in securing funding for the significant expansion projects that have occurred over the past several years and continue to be developed at the Farm. She took great pride giving of her time and financial resources to various causes.

Nancy is survived by her daughters, Jamie (Clif) Carney and Daria (Phil) Byrne of Overland Park, Kansas; her sister, Linda (Tim) of Manhattan, Kansas; her brothers, Larry (Anne) of Manhattan, Kansas, and David (Janet) of Grandview, Missouri; her grandchildren, Cole, Jenna, Finnegan, Helena, Lochlan, and Max; her five nieces, Christy, Tami (Rich), Susan (Jason), Stephanie, and Ginger (Grant); her beloved dog, Daisy; and countless friends, co-workers, former clients, and Manhattan High School classmates of 1962.

SERVICES

At Nancy's request, a private memorial service for the family will be held this week, with a celebration of life with details forthcoming in the near future for all who wish to honor her memory.

MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her memory to the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead for the purpose of building the Draft Horse Barn, a priority for Nancy (13800 Switzer Road Overland Park, Kansas 66221 or https://arfop.donorshops.com/product/A83D048/contribution-for-the-farmstead. Please note Nancy McConnell). In addition, Jamie and Daria would like to encourage other acts of kindness in her honor, such as adopting a shelter pet, giving assistance to someone in their time of need, or saving a turtle from a busy street.