Mona Upton, age 86, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on June 14, 2021. She was born on August 4, 1934, in Liberal, Kansas, to E. Paul and Hazel M. (Crane) Amos. Mona had one brother, Gene, 4 years older, who preceded her in death in 2009. Gene was the ideal big brother and always took good care of his sister.
In 1952 Mona graduated from Shawnee Mission Rural (North) High School as head cheerleader and homecoming attendant. Mona married when she was 18, and over the years had four sons: Robin Howard Bailey, who preceded her in death in 2013; Robert Howard Bailey, Daniel B. Bailey, and William P. Bailey. They have always been the joy of her life! Her husbands and their fathers, Robert A. Howard, Daniel J. Bailey, as well as Everett D. Upton, all preceded her in death. Mona also had two stepsons, David W. Upton and Dale A. Upton, that she thought of as her own sons, plus 8 grandchildren and 10 great grands!
Mona and her brother Gene grew up living and working in the Amos Family Funeral Home, which their father designed and had built after WWII and opened in 1946. So they were Assistant Funeral Directors at a young age.
During the Kansas Centennial in 1961, Mona’s dad, E. Paul Amos, organized and led the Santa Fe Trail Riders from Shawnee Mission to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Paul was the Wagonmaster, and Mona rode sidesaddle through every town along 56 Highway to celebrate Kansas’ 100th birthday.
In 1970 Mona began working part-time as a church secretary, then answered an ad to learn the real estate business at Kirk Co. Realtors in Topeka, Kansas. After 6 years, Mona and her husband, Everett Upton, moved to Colorado, where they answered an ad wanting resident managers for a retirement community. They worked together as managers in Colorado Springs and Denver, then moved to Scottsdale and Mesa, Arizona. Mona was a member of the DAR for many years and served as Chapter Regent for the Pike’s Peak and the Grand Canyon Chapters.
The last three years before they retired in 1997 were spent in beautiful Sedona, Arizona, as managers of the Sedona Motel. They then had 6 wonderful years together before Everett went Home to be with his Lord. So, Bobby offered to take care of his mom, if she would leave Arizona for Sarasota, Florida, which she did. Mona spent 5 years in that state before moving back to Topeka, where she made her home at the Presbyterian Manor and had three surgeries within two years. In time, Mona volunteered to be Secretary for the Manor’s Resident Council. In 2010 she was elected Chairman of the Council. Then she served as Spiritual Life Chairman for the Manor Chapel.
Graveside service will be October 8, 2021, at Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens, Shawnee, Kansas.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Good Samaritan Fund at Emporia Presbyterian Manor, 2300 Industrial Road, Emporia, Kansas 66801.
Final Resting Place
Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens
23215 W. 75th St.
Shawnee, KS 66227
In 1952 Mona graduated from Shawnee Mission Rural (North) High School as head cheerleader and homecoming attendant. Mona married when she was 18, and over the years had four sons: Robin Howard Bailey, who preceded her in death in 2013; Robert Howard Bailey, Daniel B. Bailey, and William P. Bailey. They have always been the joy of her life! Her husbands and their fathers, Robert A. Howard, Daniel J. Bailey, as well as Everett D. Upton, all preceded her in death. Mona also had two stepsons, David W. Upton and Dale A. Upton, that she thought of as her own sons, plus 8 grandchildren and 10 great grands!
Mona and her brother Gene grew up living and working in the Amos Family Funeral Home, which their father designed and had built after WWII and opened in 1946. So they were Assistant Funeral Directors at a young age.
During the Kansas Centennial in 1961, Mona’s dad, E. Paul Amos, organized and led the Santa Fe Trail Riders from Shawnee Mission to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Paul was the Wagonmaster, and Mona rode sidesaddle through every town along 56 Highway to celebrate Kansas’ 100th birthday.
In 1970 Mona began working part-time as a church secretary, then answered an ad to learn the real estate business at Kirk Co. Realtors in Topeka, Kansas. After 6 years, Mona and her husband, Everett Upton, moved to Colorado, where they answered an ad wanting resident managers for a retirement community. They worked together as managers in Colorado Springs and Denver, then moved to Scottsdale and Mesa, Arizona. Mona was a member of the DAR for many years and served as Chapter Regent for the Pike’s Peak and the Grand Canyon Chapters.
The last three years before they retired in 1997 were spent in beautiful Sedona, Arizona, as managers of the Sedona Motel. They then had 6 wonderful years together before Everett went Home to be with his Lord. So, Bobby offered to take care of his mom, if she would leave Arizona for Sarasota, Florida, which she did. Mona spent 5 years in that state before moving back to Topeka, where she made her home at the Presbyterian Manor and had three surgeries within two years. In time, Mona volunteered to be Secretary for the Manor’s Resident Council. In 2010 she was elected Chairman of the Council. Then she served as Spiritual Life Chairman for the Manor Chapel.
Graveside service will be October 8, 2021, at Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens, Shawnee, Kansas.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Good Samaritan Fund at Emporia Presbyterian Manor, 2300 Industrial Road, Emporia, Kansas 66801.
Events
Final Resting Place
Shawnee Mission Memory Gardens
23215 W. 75th St.
Shawnee, KS 66227
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