Dora A. Sleyster

Dora Ann Sleyster, of Harrisonville, Missouri was born January 22, 1928 in Raytown, Missouri the daughter of James W. “Sam” and Myrtle (Clifton) Clark. Dora was always close to her mom and dad. Even though her dad died when she was 6, her mother found ways to keep her children with her and never remarried. She went to be with her Lord on Thursday, May 29, 2014 at the Adrian Manor, Adrian, Missouri at the age of 86 years, 4 months and 7 days.
On December 5, 1946, Dora was united in marriage to Willard Sleyster in Raytown, Missouri.
Dora asked Jesus to come into her heart at age 12 at the Raytown Baptist Church and was a member of the Abiding Love Baptist Church, Harrisonville. She had always been active in her work for the Lord and a leader in the church wherever she attended, even at the age of 12 she was assigned to a class of 5 year olds and enjoyed that and watching the kids grow up. Dora was a 4-H leader, Past Regent DAR Prairie Chapter, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Harrisonville DAR Mary Sibley Chapter, Life Member and Past President of the Truman Lakewood auxiliary with 1000 plus volunteer hours, Life Member of the Raytown Historical Society and Museum and the Cass County Historical Society. Dora was a journeyman genealogist and was one to pump all the information she could get from her grandparents, Joe and Lethay Clifton and her great-grandmother Izora Cox. Through her genealogy work, she traced 7 generations to James Nelson West from Kentucky and to Raytown. Dora was a 200 bowler, craftsman doll maker, decoupage, ceramics, quilting, cross stitching, painter and many other craft that at one time Dora could have had her own craft shop. She operated a doll hospital as well as owned and operated with her husband a grocery store. Her most happy days were the few years she spent on a farm in Bates County. She raised bucket calves, a few hogs and many chickens. Dora received many awards from Moorman Feed Co. for her price per pound of chicken meat and her price per egg, which developed into a weekly egg route in Raytown for a couple of years at which time to her misgivings the family left the farm and moved to Drexel, Missouri.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, J.W.
Dora is survived by her husband of 68 years, Willard; 3 children, Sandy (Jim) Ellis, Urbana, Missouri, James “J.B.” (Vicki Jo) and Willa all of Harrisonville, Missouri; 5 grandchildren, Cliff (Jane), Vicki D (Jim), Jeffery, Nathan (Sara) and Jacob; 9 great-grandchildren, Kirsten, Hannah, Colton, Blake, Alex, Ella, Jaxon, Ben and Kline; other relatives and many friends.
Services were held June 2, 2014 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, MO, burial in the Brooking Cemetery, Raytown, MO.
Family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or to the Abiding Love Baptist Church building fund.