Kathleen was born March 19, 1929 to Commodore and Mabel (Slack) Grove in Bible Grove, Illinois. She passed away Sunday, January 14, 2024, at her home in Columbia, MO.
She was united in marriage to Kenneth L. Fornear on September 6, 1952. To that union were born a son, Michael Fornear and a daughter Kathi Fornear. Ken and Kathy resided in Carmi, Illinois a number of years before they became owners and operators of Sesser Lumber Company in Sesser, Illinois. Her husband Kenneth Fornear preceded her in death in October 1986. She later married Marvin E. Sapp (who survives) of Columbia, Missouri, on January 6, 1997, and has resided there since. In Columbia, Kathleen was employed in Saffees Ladies Apparel in downtown Columbia, while Marvin farmed.
Kathleen enjoyed reading, tending her flowers, and watching or listening to the St. Louis Cardinal’s baseball games. She was a remarkable artist and took great pride in serving as a docent at the Boone County Historical Society.
Kathleen is survived by her daughter Kathi Jones, grandson Finius (Amy) Fornear, great-grandsons Zayne and Lelan Fornear, great-granddaughters Kristina, Jovie and Aneira Jones, and daughter-in-law Meredith Fornear. She is also survived by one brother Larry (Vicki) Grove, nieces Michele (Scott) Malone, Pam (Joe) Seed, nephews Jim (Selina) Grove, Harold (Trell) Cockrum, great nieces Kayla Malone, and Sherry (Heath) Harpole. She is also survived by sister-in-law Carolyn (Richard) Stubblefield, and niece Jennifer (Ed) Lobenhofer.
In addition, Kathleen is survived by her stepdaughters: Patricia (Glenn) Wehmeyer, Pamela (Mac) Cook, Paula Netemeyer, Priscilla (Robert Aitkens) Stone, Portia (Jerry) O’Laughlan, Jane Harrison, John (Connie) Morris, Larry Morris, and daughter-in-law Kathy Morris, 28 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.
Kathleen was preceded in death by her first husband Kenneth Fornear, son Michael Fornear, grandson Dylan Jones, son-in-law Brad Jones, brother Jim Grove, sister Maxine Cockrum, sister-in-law Grace Grove, brother-in-law Harold Cockrum, nephew Greg Cockrum, and niece Sara Stubblefield.
The visitation for Kathleen will be held on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the First Methodist Church in Sesser. Funeral services will begin at 1:00 p.m. with the Reverend James Sloan officiating. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery in Sesser following the service.
The family is being assisted by Brayfield-Gilbert Funeral Home in Sesser. For more information go to our website www.gilbertfuneralhomes.com
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