Langley, Kathryn 1942-2025 Country Club Village, Mo.
COUNTRY CLUB VILLAGE, Mo. – Kathryn Langley, 82 years old, of Country Club Village, Missouri, passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, May 19, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family.
Kathryn was born on October 19, 1942, the seventh of 13 children, to the late Henry and Goldie (Prather) DeFreece in Parnell, Missouri. She graduated from Northeast Nodaway High School of Ravenwood, Missouri, in 1960. On Feb. 16, 1963, she married Hershel Langley and the two later moved to St. Joseph where to begin their career and family. Together, they raised two children, Brit and Tonya, creating a home full of love, joy, and laughter.
Kathryn was known for her warmth, quick wit, and unwavering support of those she loved. She was the heart of our family, full of strength, kindness and resilience. She has a generous spirit, a sharp sense of humor and a fierce loyalty to those she loved. She took pride in her work supporting local electrical apprentices and found joy in their success, most recently at the Electrical Apprentice office.
Kathryn loved sports of any kind, cheering loudest for her children and grandchildren, the Royals, and the Warriors. Summers were spent planting flowers, bowling with her sister Sharon, hunting garage sales treasures with her daughter Tonya, and going on roadtrips with her best friend Anne Brownfield.
She was predeceased by: her parents, Goldie Mae (Prather) and Henry DeFreece; her husband, Herschel Langley; and her sisters, Virginia Perkins, Jeanette DeFreece, Marilyn Runde, and JoElla Gilbert.
She is survived by: her children, Brit (Beth) Langley and Tonya Elmasri-Langley; her grandchildren, Kiandra and Sameera Elmasri, and Caroline and Zachary Langley; and her siblings, Mona Rogers, Helen Beal, Jimmy DeFreece, Jack DeFreece, David DeFreece, Vickie Kling, Debbie Busby, and Sharon DeFreece.
Kathryn’s legacy lives on in her children, grandchildren, siblings, extended family, and countless friends.
Per her wishes, no services will be held at this time but the Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date to honor Kathryn Langley. Memorials may be sent to AseraCare Hospice in her memory. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.
