Joan Victoria Dunham (Payne)

Joan Dunham, beloved mother of Sean Dunham and Terry Roth and loving wife of Jon Dunham, passed away peacefully on March 14, 2025, at the age of 79 while a resident of Sunrise Senior Living in Leawood Kansas.

Joan was born on October 25, 1945, in Greenville, Alabama to John and Essie Payne. She graduated from Garden City High School in 1963 where she was known as Joanie Payne or Joanie Roth. After high school, Joan attended the College of DuPage and Longview Community College where she attained her associate’s degree in psychology. A few years later Joan obtained her real estate license.

Joan was married to Leonard Roth, father of Terry Roth in the 1960s. In 1970, she married her husband of 55 years, Jon Dunham. Joan, Jon and family have lived in Kentucky, Illinois and Maryland before relocating to Lee’s Summit, Missouri in 1982. With that relocation Joan enjoyed being closer to her family and friends in Cass County where she grew up. Joan enjoyed her career as a realtor in Lee’s Summit for over 30 years before retiring in 2015. She made many friends in the real estate business and helped hundreds of families find their perfect home. Outside of work Joan enjoyed time in the local church, her tennis club, the gym, spending time with family, friends, caring for her dogs and shopping. Joan and Jon enjoyed dinning out and traveling as often as they could. Joan will be remembered for her desire to serve others and the joy she brought to family and friends.

Joan was a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who cherished time spent with family. Joan is survived by her husband Jon Dunham of Raymore, her son Sean Dunham and wife Christy of Raymore and Daughter in law Sarah Roth of Independence, KS. Joan was preceded in death by her son, Terry Douglas Roth, her brother, John Payne Jr. her sister Mary Ann Payne and her parents John & Essie Payne. Joan took pride in being grandmother to Braiden and Ariel Dunham, Baylor and Kirah Dunham, Dulce Dunham, Anna Roth, and Gwyn Roth. In recent years Joan became a Great Grandmother to Savannah, Hadley, Jeremiah and Kaiden.

Visitation will be held on March 22, 2025, from 9:30am to 10:00am with a celebration of life service starting at 10:00 am at Dickey Funeral Home in Harrisonville, Missouri. Instead of flowers, donations can be made to Wayside Waifs in Joan’s memory. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.