Lillian Mae (Demarais) Spiess

Lillian Mae (Demarais) Spiess age 85 of Kansas City, Kansas passed away peacefully in the presence of her family on Thursday, March 30, 2017 at St. Luke's Hospice in Kansas City, Missouri. She was born May 15, 1931, the daughter of Oscar Otto and Ruth Louise (Nicely) Demarais. On September 9, 1944, Lillian was united in marriage to Leonard Eugene Spiess. In this union they shared five children: Debbie Lee, Albert Eugene, Martin Leon, Kenneth Dale, and Christopher Robin. They enjoyed over fifty-three years of marriage before Leonard passed away on January 2, 1997. Lillian was a reading specialist and librarian for the Turner School District for twenty-seven years, retiring in 2010, with much protest from her beloved students and co-educators. She was knowledgeable about many subjects and she firmly believed that reading and comprehension were empowering. She taught her family and friends how to appreciate literature in ways they would have never realized without her guidance. Lillian enjoyed crocheting, crafting and square dancing. She was marvelous cook and her family will dearly miss her home-cooked meals. Most of all, Lillian was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great-great grandmother who cherished every moment she got to spend with her family. She will be greatly missed by her loved ones and her love and spirit will be expressed in all of their daily lives forever. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Leonard; her four brothers, Robert Nicely, Ronald Nicely, Richard Nicely and Samuel Nicely; and son-in-law, Clifford Stephens. Lillian is survived by one daughter, Debbie Lee Stephens of Kansas City, Kansas; four sons, Gene Spiess and his wife Vicki of Lenexa, Kansas, Martin L. Spiess and his wife Amanda of Paola, Kansas, Kenneth D. Spiess, Sr., and Christopher R. Spiess and his wife Amber of Kansas City, Kansas; two sisters Patricia Stern and her husband Alan of Bluffton, South Carolina and Joyce Nicely of California; ten grandchildren; thirteen great grandchildren; and seven great-great grandchildren. Funeral Services will be held 12:00 P.M. Wednesday, April 5, 2017 with at visitation starting one hour prior at 11:00 A.M. at Maple Hill Funeral Home in Kansas City, Kansas. The burial will follow to the Maple Hill Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas.

Tributes

Lillian Mae (Demarais) Spiess

May 15, 1931 - March 30, 2017