Mayetta Norlene Laffey

Mayetta "Norlene" Laffey, age 72, a resident of St. Joseph, Missouri, formerly of Chillicothe, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, January 31, 2012, at Heartland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph, Missouri. Norlene was born on July 8, 1939, in Weston, Missouri, the daughter of Chester and Mildred (Pulliam) Smithers. She was a 1957 graduate of Chillicothe High School and a 1990 graduate of North Central Missouri College in Trenton, Missouri. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, Chillicothe, Missouri, where she also served as the secretary. She was the owner and operator of the Shearwood Country Store. She was a former 4-H leader in the Lock Springs and Springhill areas. She was an avid quilter and China painter, once serving as the National China Painting Association president. She taught numerous people to quilt and china paint throughout her life. Survivors include her sons Kevin Laffey and wife Cindy of Lenexa, Kansas, and John Laffey and wife Kendra of Maryville, Missouri; daughters Teresa Reiter of Wichita, Kansas, and Lisa Bowman and husband Rob of Kearney, Missouri; sister Charlene Wisniewski and husband Louis of Liberty, Missouri; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; two nieces; and close personal friend, Joyce Laffey of St. Joseph, Missouri. She was preceded in death by her parents. Memorial services will be held at Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Friday, February 3, 2012, at 1:00 p.m. A family visitation will be held at Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Thursday, February 2, 2012, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Friends may call at Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri, on Thursday, February 2, 2012, from 12 noon until 9:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Via Christi HOPE in Wichita, Missouri, and may be left at or mailed to Lindley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 47, Chillicothe, MO 64601. Online condolences may be made at www.lindleyfuneralhome.com . Arrangements are under the direction of Lindley Funeral Home, Chillicothe, Missouri.