Ashley Rae Abernethy, 22, of Lee's Summit, passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on December 1, 2009, ending her courageous seven-month battle against SinoNasal Undifferentiated Carcinoma. "Ash Dog the Booty Hog" was born on Dec. 4, 1986, in Shawnee Mission, Kan., to John Kendall and Barbara Jean (Conoyer) Abernethy. She graduated from Lee's Summit High School and attended Northwest Missouri State University. Ashley was everyone's buddy and the consummate peacemaker among her many and varied friends. She loved serving others and caring for babies and children, and this beautiful girl was dearly loved by her family and friends. Ashley was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather and namesake, Ray Conoyer. She is survived by her mother, Barb Abernethy, and sister, Kelsey Abernethy, of the home, and her father, Ken Abernethy, Independence. She also is survived by her maternal grandparents, Dorothy and Bill Killday, Edina; paternal grandparents, Don and Helen Abernethy, Caruthersville, and Jackie and Doug Kollar, Kirksville; aunts and uncles, Donna and Ray Hudson, Alexandria, Va., Linda and Tim Wurm, Wentzville, Steve and Joanne Conoyer, Palmyra, Nancy and Scott Goodwin, Knox City, and Paul Abernethy, Independence; cousins, Lauren and Beth Hudson, Brian and Danny Wurm, Jay and Trevor Conoyer, Montana Goodwin and Chase Abernethy; Ken's companion, Lucinda Hoffman, Independence; Barb's companion, Mark Bredemeier, Lee's Summit; and Ashley's faithful dog, Bud. Ashley also leaves behind loving friends and classmates that grew into the hundreds and an army of her fellow prayer warriors that in recent months multiplied into the thousands all across the country. The family would like to thank Dr. Kelley Young, and the staffs at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, St. Luke's East Hospital, Lee's Summit, and Kansas City Hospice House for all their loving care of Ashley during her final weeks here with us. Although she has left us too soon, we can only imagine Ashley's joy as she is surrounded by His glory and hears the sweetest sound, the voices of the angels. She is finally home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, with a Rosary Service following at 8 p.m. at Langsford Funeral Home, Lee's Summit. Mass of the Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 4, at St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church, Lee's Summit, with graveside services to follow at Lee's Summit Historical Cemetery. Arr.: Langsford Funeral Home, 115 SW Third St., Lee's Summit, MO 64063 (816) 524-3700.
Published in Kansas City Star on December 3, 2009