JoNell (Jody) Abbott
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Funeral services for JoNell (Jody) Abbott, 84, of Overland Park, will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at the Wesley Covenant Chapel of the Leawood United Methodist Church of the Resurrection (13720 Roe Ave, Leawood, KS). Burial will follow at the Shawnee Memorial Gardens in Shawnee, KS.
She died on Friday, December 13, 2019 at the Kansas City Hospice House in Kansas City, MO, after a valiant battle with several forms of cancer.
Jody was born on January 10, 1935 in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, the daughter of Charles and Evalina Clegg Ward. She grew up in Arkansas, Kansas City and Los Alamos, New Mexico where she graduated from high school. She has lived in Kansas for many of her adult years. She attended the University of Kansas from 1953-1955.
She was a sales associate in residential real estate in Johnson County since 1971. She retired with ReeceNichols Real Estate three years ago. While working in real estate, she received several achievement awards from the company and from the Johnson County Board of Realtors. She was awarded the Realtor Emeritus Award from the National Association of Realtors and also the CRS Emeritus from the Certified Residential Specialists. The Kansas Association of Realtors awarded her their Salesperson of the Year Award in 1992. During her long career, she was especially active in legislative affairs for the state and local real estate associations.
Jody was active in many organizations including: being a member of the National Association of Realtors, Kansas Association of Realtors (where she was a former director and committee chair), member of the Kansas Regional Association of Realtors, and member of the Real Estate Buyer’s Council. She was a certified Residential Specialist for the Council of Certified Residential Specialists and the Women’s Council of Realtors. She was also a former board member of the Johnson County Board of Realtors, and former member of the Brown & Gold Club of the Johnson County Community College. She was a former member of the Child Abuse Prevention Council, where she served on the board for three years.
Jody valued education not only for herself in her professional life and her own family, but for her community. She volunteered for five years for the Olathe school district as a youth mentor and lunch buddy. While reading and spending time with young students she felt that she continued to learn from them.
While raising her five children, Jody was active in teaching Sunday school at Leawood Baptist Church, was a Cub Scout den mother and a Camp Fire Girls assistant. She later was a Girl Scout assistant leader and a cheerleading and drill team sponsor for her girls. Jody never missed an activity or an opportunity to serve.
Jody was a current member of the Leawood United Methodist Church of the Resurrection.
Jody was an avid sports fan and especially loved the KC Royals, KC Chiefs, and the Kansas Jayhawks football and basketball teams. She and her late husband, Bob Abbott, enjoyed travelling with the Flying Jayhawks. She was a member of the KU Alumni Association- Jayhawk Society.
Jody was married to Robert “Bob” Abbott on March 10, 1979 in Overland Park. He preceded her in death on January 19, 2017. She was earlier married to Darrell D. Cain with whom she had five wonderful children.
Jody is survived by two daughters, Susan E. McElwain of Lawrence, KS. Carolyn B. Johnson of Kansas City, MO; three sons: Darrell W. Cain of Dallas, TX, Charles E. Cain of Overland Park, KS, Steven L. Cain of Plano, TX, and a stepson, Paul E. Abbott of Olathe, KS. She is also survived by thirteen grandchildren, three great granddaughters, four step grandchildren and eight step great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a grandson, Darrell David Cain. She loved her family dearly and communicated regularly with them in-person, by greeting cards, by cell phone, text messaging, and Facebook.
The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until service time at the church (Wesley Covenant Chapel).
The family suggests memorials in her name to the Leawood United Methodist Church of the Resurrection or to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer Research. Those gifts may be sent may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary (120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044).
Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence is handling arrangements.
I worked with Jody in Real Estate for several years. She always had a smile on her face and was a very loving sweet lady. I will miss her as I know all her friends will. Rest in peace dear friend.
Jody was an amazing lady. Always willing to help and always with a positive outlook on every situation. I loved her sense of humor. She was one of the most dedicated persons I know. Her devotion to her family leaves a loving legacy of loyalty, compassion, and care. I pray God’s gifts of Mercy, Peace and Love for her family!
Such a lovely lady! She gave so much of herself to the people she worked with and could always be counted on to do what she said she would. She will be missed by all who knew her! Rest In Peace, Jody.
It was a great pleasure to work with Jody at JD Reece Realtors where she was a true professional who cared about her clients. I was so happy she came to a gathering of the old Metcalf office group when I last visited KC. Our sympathy is with the family.
I first met Jody at Park Meadows Senior Living when she was a resident in our Independent Living facility. Jody was very active with our Book Club and was a great story teller. She always kept me informed of the Jayhawk happenings. I will miss her smile, her willingness to help and her positive attitude.
Nikki Salisbury
Park Meadows Senior Living
I first met Jody as a Newby in the Real Estate business at Bob Owen Realtors, when I was fresh out or Collage, and had little knowledge of what I was doing. She was very helpful ,in her gentle way, to get me straightened out on my confusing paperwork. . She was a very kind person and a very good person. We have lost one of the Best.
I pass my sorrow along to her Children.
So very sorry for the loss of your mother. Jody was always such a joy to work with and so glad I had the privilege to do several Real Estate Sales with her.
Many thoughts and prayers with the families.
Nancy Wilson
Daybreak Realty, Inc.
I am proud to call Jody Abbott my friend for 42 years. I met her after graduating from college and starting employment with Bob Owen and Company Realtors as the advertising manager for the company. I had about 100 agents to work with, helping them manage the advertisements and marketing of their listings. She was a great agent and a superb human being. Always on time to get her ads in the newspaper. Always available to lend assistance where needed. Always with that beautiful smile. I will miss you my dear friend. Sincere condolences to your wonderful family.
My condolences to the family.
Soar on sweet Jody, soar on!
Jody was a sweetheart ! She will be missed.
Jody was a wonderful person and Realtor. She was very dedicated to CRS. I had a dream about her the other night and she looked so pretty and told me she was feeling great! It was so real. I hope she is feeling great in Heaven! God Bless your family! Jody leaves behind a lasting legacy!
I met Jodi in The Sunday Night Singles Group where she and Bob were active. It was so long ago that I’ve forgotten the year. They were both good friends and we spent time together camping, laughing and sharing life. Jodi also guided me through several real estate transactions. My many found memories of her will live on for the rest of my life. She was a friend.
Jody, what a wonderful lady! You will be missed!
Could you please tell me if Jody ever spent time in the little town of Arlington, Kansas and maybe lived with a relative there during 1951/52/53.
Sorry to hear about your mother and I’m wondering if she is the Jody I knew in Arlington, Ks. She is my age. Thanks.