Perry "Pat" Thayer, Jr.

Perry Arthur (“PAT”) Thayer, Jr., 92, of Grandview Missouri passed away on April 30th, 2019.

Pat was born the 30th of January 1927 in Amarillo Texas to Ruth Ann and Perry A. Thayer Sr.  He attended local schools in Amarillo and eventually attended Kemper Military Academy in Boonville MO.  Pat left Kemper and enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II.  He was discharged from the Navy in 1946 and attended Tulsa University in Tulsa Oklahoma.  At the start of the Korean War, Pat was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force and served in Korea, France, and Germany.

After his military service Pat settled in the Kansas City area and had a successful career in Real Estate.  He met and married Mary Riedesel in 1970.  They could be found together playing duplicate bridge as often as possible, and they were Bridge Life Masters.  If not at the bridge table with Mary, you could find Pat outdoors; he was an avid fisherman and duck hunter.  Pat was very involved with Ducks Unlimited and was one of the forces in starting the Longview Chapter of DU whose first event was held in 1981.  Throughout the years he served as Sponsor Chair, Regional Coordinator, and was appointed National Delegate in 2012.

Pat was a little rough around the edges with a dry, sarcastic sense of humor.  He never wavered from his morals and beliefs and to know him was to love and respect him.  He had high expectations of all, he had significant passion for DU, he was a card shark (at poker and at the bridge table), he was a major Royals and Chiefs fan, and he had a love for golden retrievers (and other good hunting dogs).  He had a love for his wife, family, and friends that was like no other.  He taught those around him independence, drive, attitude, acceptance, among many, many more things.

Pat was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Mary.  He is survived by his daughter MaryPat (Chris) Carnes, and their daughter Brittany, and his step-sons Paul (Sue) Denzer, Peter Denzer, Andrew (Jill) Denzer, John (Genia) Denzer, his grandchildren Ben, Stephanie (David), Apryl, Elizabeth, his great grandsons Mason and Isaac, and his brother James Thayer.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, May 6th from 6:00-8:00pm with a time for sharing beginning at 7:00pm, all at Longview Funeral Home, 12700 SE Raytown Rd., Kansas City, MO 64149.

Memorial donations are suggested to Longview Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, C/O Brad Close 11318 Wornall Rd. Kansas City MO 64114.