Elaine Whitehair O’Connor passed away at her home in Prairie Village, KS on Sunday evening, May 21, held in the arms of her son and daughter.

Elaine was born May 19, 1956 in Abilene, KS, the daughter of Bill and Betty Whitehair. She graduated from Abilene High School in 1974 and from Kansas State University in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work. She met her husband, Steve O’Connor, at K-State and they were married in Abilene in June of 1981. They lived in Salina, Denver, Lenexa and Raleigh, NC during their marriage. Steve died in a car accident in Raleigh in 1990. Elaine, Erin and Kyle then moved back to the Kansas City area where Elaine worked for Cardiology Services and focused on raising her children. After Erin and Kyle went to K-State, Elaine lived in Manhattan for 11 years where she made many wonderful friends. She returned to Kansas City in 2013 and was director of the Homestead of Leawood Assisted Living until her illness.

She worked for the state of Kansas in the areas of abuse, neglect and adoption and continued her care of others throughout her entire life. She was a dedicated volunteer for Meals on Wheels, Kiwanis, her church in every city in which she lived, the community gardens in Manhattan, and the Manhattan Country Club as well as the Flint Hills Bread Basket.

Elaine is survived by her daughter Erin O’Connor of Prairie Village, KS and her son Kyle O’Connor and his wife, Erin, of Highlands Ranch, CO. Her beloved grandson, Kellan, was born in March and got to spend time with his Nana in the weeks before her death. She is also survived by four brothers: Dr. Mike (Cathy) Whitehair, Kirk (Carol) Whitehair, Brian (JoEllen) Whitehair all of Abilene, and Chris (Leslie) Whitehair of Jordan, MN; two sisters: Joleen (Jim) Klausman of Topeka and Sharon Whitehair of Denver, CO as well as many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Her much-loved O’Connor family includes Donny (Nancy) of Centennial, CO, Mike (Anna)of Arlington Heights, IL, Tim (Libby) of St. Louis and JJ (Tammy) of Smolan, KS. Elaine leaves behind many cherished friends who were with her throughout her illness.

Elaine was preceded in death by her parents and husband, a brother, Larry, and two brothers-in-law: Gerald and Terrance O’Connor.

Visitation will be at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 7231 Mission Rd., Prairie Village KS on Thursday, May 25 at 7:00 pm. A parish/family rosary will be said at 6:30 pm in the chapel. The funeral Mass will be held at St. Ann’s on Friday, May 26, at 3:00 pm. Elaine's ashes will be buried at St. John’s cemetery in Herington, KS.

The family suggests donations in Elaine’s memory to the American Cancer Society of Kansas City, 1100 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, MO 64105 (http://www.cancer.org); or Catholic Community Hospice at 9740 W. 87^th St., Overland Park, KS 66212 (http://www.catholiccharitiesks.org)