Vanessa Jo Livesay, 62, passed away on April 6, 2022.
She was born December 20, 1959 to Marilyn (Bennett) Livesay and Bob Livesay in Charleston, IL. Her parents moved their family from Illinois to Cainsville, MO in 1965 to pursue a family farm operation. Vanessa and her siblings showed cattle, became active in 4H, and loved every Thanksgiving when their extended family would come from Illinois for the holiday. She attended Northwest Missouri State University after graduating high school. She met Jay Nower while at school in Maryville. The couple married in 1980 and moved to Kansas City. They had 2 children, Jessica and Curtis, and moved to Weston to raise their family. Vanessa was the secretary at West Platte High School for many years and loved the students as her own. It was common for her to receive a hug from a former student if she was running errands or out with Jay at a restaurant. She looked forward to her monthly club meetings and her annual cross stitch trip to Oklahoma every July.
She was an avid reader, Jeopardy enthusiast, and lover of animals. Vanessa never stopped learning. She had gone back to school majoring in History and was just short of earning her degree. Her goal was to one day work in a museum. She loved a glass of iced tea, her dogs, and her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents; in-laws Jim and Mary Edna Nower; and uncles Carroll Livesay and Allen Livesay.
Vanessa is survived by her husband; daughter Jessica (Todd) Sebade of Columbus, NE; son Curtis (Holly) Nower and grandchildren Arianna and Rowan of Weston, MO; brother Michael (Marilyn) Livesay of Cainsville, MO; sister Vicki (Marty) Nower of Gladstone, MO; aunt Phyllis Livesay of Adkins, TX; uncle Jerry (Susie) Bennett of Arizona; aunt Ann Livesay of Mattoon, IL; brother-in-law Dan (Michelle) Nower of Knoxville, TN; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
A visitation will be held Monday, April 11, 2022 at Vaughn Funeral Home in Weston, MO from 5-7 pm. Funeral service will be at 10:30 am on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at the funeral home, followed by interment at Graceland Cemetery in Weston, MO. Arrangements By: Vaughn Funeral Home—Weston, MO.
