Deloras Knepper Pemberton

Deloras Knepper Pemberton, 80, Prairie Village, KS, native of St. Joseph, Mo. died Tuesday, Nov. 13th after a long illness. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:15 and Memorial services will be held at 11:30 AM, Monday, Dec. 3rd with reception to follow at Colonial United Church of Christ, 7039 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Drs. Beaty and Deloras Pemberton Scholarship Fund at UMKC School of Medicine or to Colonial United Church of Christ in Prairie Village, KS. or Eden Seminary, Webster Groves, MO.

Deloras was a lifetime learner and teacher. She held a B.A. in English and Speech and a M.A. in English from Northwestern University.  She also held a PhD in Reading Education from UMKC.  Deloras spent six years of study at the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family in Washington, DC. She also compiled A New Index to Murray Bowen's Family Therapy in Clinical Practice. She taught at the elementary, secondary and college level, and managed the office of continuing education at UMKC School of Education.

Deloras was devoted to the well-being of her family, both immediate and extended. She loved her family as well as, learning, reading, Bowen Family Systems Theory and Colonial Church of Prairie Village. She served on the boards of Colonial Church, Eden Seminary and The KC Center for Family Systems. She was a patron of the Kansas City Symphony, the Lyric Opera, and the Kansas City Repertory Theater, and for many years she was a summer resident and supporter of the Chautauqua Institute in New York.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Loarn Beaty Pemberton and brother in-law Lee Shelley Pemberton III. Deloras is survived by daughter Michelle Pemberton, son Mark Pemberton (Barbara), grandchildren Stacy Bonds (Mallory), Amy Bonds,  Tyler Pemberton, Jason Pemberton, Allison Pemberton;  brother Paul Knepper (Zabute); sister-in-law Kay Pemberton and many nieces and nephews.