Herbert Edward Ayers

Herbert Edward Ayers, 77, of Kansas City, Kan., departed this world unexpectedly the evening of Saturday, July 22, 2017. Herb was born in Kansas City, Mo., on Dec. 31, 1939, to Ruth Ann Baker Ayers and Herbert Truman Ayers. He was the second of four children.

Herb grew up in Nevada, Missouri where he graduated from Nevada High School in 1957. He briefly attended Fort Scott Community College, later graduating from the University of Missouri at Columbia having achieved a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education. Herb was a high school Industrial Arts instructor in Mokane, Mo., when he married the love of his life, Virginia Ann Dickinson, on Dec. 12, 1964. At the time of his death, they had been married over 52 years. Herb and Virginia briefly lived in Jefferson City and Fulton, Mo., before making their home in Kansas City, Kansas, where Herb took a teaching position with the Turner School District. They became the proud parents of one daughter in 1966 and continued to reside in Kansas City, Kan., after Herb left the field of teaching to pursue a sales career with the R.L. Sweet Lumber Company in their Standard Homes division. The majority of Herb’s career was with Standard Homes while he also operated his own private drafting practice designing homes for clients in and surrounding the Kansas City area. During his career in the building industry, he also worked for McCray Lumber and Millwork, as well as Lowes. He retired in 2009. Herb was very creative. He enjoyed woodworking and building projects and could fix anything. He excelled at drafting and design, both by hand and by computer. He loved classical music, western movies and novels, drawing and crossword puzzles. Herb loved to learn new things and particularly enjoyed computers and studying AutoCAD. Spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, was his passion. He was hardworking and devoted. He was a dedicated family man who was loved and will be missed very dearly.

He is preceded in death by his parents and older brother, John William Ayers. He is survived by his wife, Virginia Ayers of Kansas City, Kan.; his daughter, Susan Hime (David) of Paola, Kan.; his grandson, Dennis Michael Chanay II of Martin City, Mo.; his granddaughter Erin Nicole Thompson (Kevin) of Basehor, Kan.; his brother Martin Ayers of Independence, Mo.; his sister Alison Alvarez, of North Kansas City, Mo., and many other extended family and friends.

Visitation will be today, from 6-8 p.m. at MapleHill Funeral Home in Kansas City. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, at the funeral home and burial will follow at Maple Hill Cemetery.