KAYLA EDDY
Kayla (Michaela) K. Eddy, a twenty-two-year resident of Olathe, KS, passed away on October 16, 2010, after a 5-year battle with breast cancer. She taught at Westridge Middle School in the Shawnee Mission School District for 17 years; prior to that she taught in Lathrop and the Center School district for a total teaching career of thirty-one years.
She is survived by her husband, Steve Eddy; two daughters Lauren Dianne Eddy, a student at the University of Kansas, MaryKate Eddy, a student at Missouri State University; her mother-in-law Dianne Eddy of Irvine, CA; and her parents, Danny and Virginia Pat Kerns of Liberty, MO.
Born on May 4, 1957, Kayla was a graduate of Winnetonka High School, class of 1975. She received her undergraduate degree at Iowa State University in 1979 and her graduate degree at the University of Missouri at Kansas City in 1981. She was an active member of Delta Zeta Sorority throughout college and a state chairperson with the sorority for several years afterwards.
She was also an AFS host sister to Vilma Garofalo Mendoza of Guayaquil, Ecuador. This developed into a thirty-seven-year relationship with Vilma's family including husband Gustavo, goddaughter Alexandra Mendoza Griffith (Brandon) and Valaria, Carlos, and Rafael Mendoza.
The family followed Kayla's wishes by holding a small private service to remember and celebrate her life.
The family is grateful to the Kansas City Hospice team and Hospice House for their care and compassion. Kayla requested no flowers, and instead, suggested contributions be considered to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization.