Wilma is preceded in death by her father, Clyde Monroe West, and her mother, Velma Myrrie West; her husband, Jesus Anthony Lopez, her daughter, Angelina, and her brother, Delmas West. She is survived by her children: Steven, Jesus, Jr., Catherine (Stan Boch), David, and Debbie (Todd Boren); grandchildren: Jordan, Tye, Ryan (Melissa), Jennifer (Michael Turner), Eagan, and Caeden; great grandchildren: Atlantis and Baylee.
Wilma Myrrie Lopez was born on June 11, 1941 and went to be with the Lord on March 26, 2025. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and while she spent the majority of her young life there, when her mother was hospitalized with Tuberculosis, Wilma and her brother were placed in a Catholic orphanage for a short time before moving to Hermitage, Missouri, where she lived with her grandfather, Charlie Hart, and grandmother, Icy. She loved the "country" and had many interesting stories about living on the farm.
Wilma met the love of her life, Jesus (Jesse) Lopez, when she was 13. As Wilma would tell it, Jesse saw her and her friends walking through Penn Valley Park where he was playing football with his friends. She saw him but was coy. This did not deter him. Jesse followed her to the Velvet Freeze, and that's where their story began. Before they met, however, Jesse had committed to the Marines and would soon be leaving for boot camp at Camp Pendleton, California. This did not derail the relationship. On his first leave, Jesse and Wilma married on April 12, 1958.
Throughout their sixty-one years of marriage, Jesse and Wilma had six children. Losing her daughter, Angelina, in 1965 was an indescribable heartbreak that she carried for the rest of her life. Wilma's grandchildren and great grandchildren were the greatest love and salve for her broken heart. Taking care of them at every opportunity, she was instrumental in her grandchildrens' upbringing, especially their early years. While she always counted herself as the lucky one, Jordan, Tye, Ryan, Jennifer, Eagan, and Caeden will be the first to tell you they are truly the blessed ones having had the opportunity to spend so much time with Grandma, Gram, Uma. With the arrival of her two beautiful great granddaughters, Wilma's heart overflowed with love and gratefulness for her family. Every single one of her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren were special to her. She loved every single one in her most precious way.
Aside from family, Wilma's other great love was sports, specifically the Chiefs (she felt she was on a first name basis with Pat :)), Sporting KC, and the Current. As a committed fan, she wore her teams' regalia proudly and stuck with them through thick and thin.
Wilma was a talented cook, seamstress, and collector. Taco Sundays, flour tortillas fresh off the hot plate, fajitas, enchiladas, fried chicken and homemade french fries…intricate quilts, dresses, doll clothes, cross stitch… bells, Precious Moments, holiday décor... Her gentle touch and spirit emanated through her special talents.
When she was twenty-four, the Holy Spirit, working through Jesse and their friends Paul and Bessie McGillicuddy, brought Wilma to the Lord. She was His faithful servant until her last breath and is now basking in God's love, rejoicing in His glory, reunited with Jesse, her love, and holding her little Angie in her arms.
Wilma Myrrie Lopez went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 26, 2025. The visitation will be at 10:00 am followed by the service at 11:00 am on Thursday, April 3, 2025 at Porter Funeral Home, 1835 Minnesota Ave, Kansas City, KS 66102. In lieu of flowers, donations to Down Syndrome Innovations or St. Jude's Children's Hospital would be greatly appreciated.