Olive Claudyne Johnson

Obituary Olive Claudyne Johnson (Tyke), 76, of Kansas City, Missouri departed this life on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. Olive was a resident of Kansas City, Missouri. She was born on September 4, 1943 in Centerville, Iowa to the union of James L. and Frances I. Henderson. She was the oldest of seven children. The family came back to Kansas City, Mo when Olive was three years old. Preceding Olive in death were her parents; James L. and Frances I. Henderson, two brothers; James L. Henderson III and Michael A. Henderson, first husband; Thomas Smith Jr and husband Dewey Johnson. Olive accepted Christ at an early age and became a member of St. Stephen Baptist Church. Later, she converted to Catholicism and attended St. Louis Catholic Church, where she was a greeter. She had also worked in the church office. Olive did not know it, but she would become a part of Kansas City History. At the age of five, she became the youngest member of a Drum and Bugle Core that had the privilege of entertaining Kansan Citians at the Kansas City Monarchs Baseball games. This Drum and Bugle Core also marched in Kansas City’s Centennial parade which was aired on television when television was new to Kansas City. Olive was educated in the Kansas City school system and was among the first group of African American students to integrate the schools. She was a 1961 Graduate of Central Senior High School. Olive also attended Kansas City Junior College and Rock Valley Junior College in Rockford, Illinois. Olive became apart of Kansas City history a third time in 1962, when she became a member of the Freedom Inc. Youth Group. She walked door-to-door registering people to vote and served as Precinct Captain. This organization was instrumental in electing Bruce R. Watkins Sr., as Kansas City’s first African American City Councilman. Olive enjoyed volunteer work: she served six years with the “Niles Home for Children” Auxiliary, four years as Secretary and two years as Vice President. She served seven years on various committees and two years as President. Olive served one year on a study group with the Grandview Missouri School District. Olive's hobbies and pastimes included playing cards, chess, bowling, house decorating, crossword puzzles, traveling, the arts and watching the Kansas City Chiefs play football. However, she most enjoyed holidays with family and friends. Olive worked as an assistant buyer for Chas. V. Weise & Co., a retail chain in Rockford, Ill. She returned to Kansas City and worked as a saleswoman for Harzfeld Department Store and after leaving there she became a Deputy Clerk Receptionist for Jackson County Circuit Court. Moving-up she joined the Law Firm of Popham, Conway, Sweeney & Bundchu as their Records Clerk. Olive was a stay at home mom. After 15 years she returned to the wok force. She was a part-time sales associate for “Fashion Bug''. Olive leaves to mourn her passing; her daughter Kristin N. Johnson of Lee's Summit, Missouri; one brother Timothy (Kimberly) L. Henderson of Kansas City, Missouri; three sisters Lorraine S. Dennis and Frances E. Henderson both of Kansas City, Missouri, Deborah A. Johnson of Kansas City, Kansas, Step- Son, Talvin Smith and grandchildren and special brother LaFayette Burns. Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 21, 2019 at St. Louis Catholic Church located at 5930 Swope Parkway Kansas City, Missouri 64130. Visitation 10:00 a.m. Interment 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 23, 2019 Leavenworth National Cemetery 150 Muncie Road Leavenworth, Kansas 66048. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Olive Claudyne Johnson, please visit our floral store. Read More

Olive Claudyne Johnson

September 4, 1943 - December 11, 2019