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Obituaries

Essie Robetta Millner Dresser, 91, died peacefully on January 22, 2012. She was born August 8, 1920, in Norfolk, Virginia, the daughter of Edward Lee and Willie Wingfield Millner. Essie graduated from Farmville Teachers’ College (now Longwood College) and soon began a long career in education. In 1942, she married Harold Dresser in Newport News, Virginia, when he was stationed at Fort Monroe.
After World War II, the family moved to Harold’s home town of Leavenworth, Kansas, where Essie taught elementary school. She later studied library science and served as a librarian in Leavenworth and Fort Leavenworth schools.
Essie enjoyed reading, word games, and puzzles, and solved the New York Times crossword puzzle every day until shortly before her death. After moving to the Kansas City area, Essie joined P.E.O and acted in plays with the Senior Barn Players.
Essie was a devoted and beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and is survived by two sons, Guy and wife Dede of Lawrence, Kansas, and John and wife Susan, of Statesville, North Carolina; a daughter, Ann and husband Rick of Olathe, Kansas; five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Her husband Harold preceded her in death in 1976.
Essie’s family would like to express our deep gratitude to the people who supported her through her illness with compassion and respect: her doctors, Lakeview Village personnel, including the staff at Eastside Terrace, and the dedicated staff of Kansas City Hospice.
A celebration of Essie’s life will be held at D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Avenue, on Sunday, January 29th at 4:30 p.m.; burial will be private. Memorials may be sent to Cross-Lines, 736 Shawnee Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas, 66105.
Fond memories and condolences for the family may be left at www.johnsoncountychapel.com
(Arrangements by D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66210. (913) 451-1860.)
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