MONICA ANN WALKER

1938 - 2017

MONICA ANN WALKER SEPTEMBER 21, 1938 - OCTOBER 15, 2017 Monica A. Walker peacefully slipped away last Sunday evening, at the Olathe Health Center Hospice, after a long struggle with COPD. Monica was born in Manchester, England, shortly before World War II. She was the daughter of Laurence W. Sullivan. Monica is preceded in death by her father, her brother, John L. Sullivan & her first husband, William (Bill) Owen, father of their two daughters, Carol Owen Epstein (Harold) & Christina Owen Kumke. Monica is survived by sister, Kathleen (Ron) Sargeant, Manchester, England, her husband of 35 years, Lary L. Walker, her daughters, Carol Epstein and Christina Kumke, her nephew, Andrew (Julie) Sargent, niece, Louise, four grandsons, Benjamin & Daniel Epstein, Ethan & Zachery Kumke, and great-grandson, Quinton Kumke. Before her marriage to Lary, she operated the Needle Woman Shop in Pine Bluff, AR, where she taught knitting, needle point & other thread art classes, as well as sold supplies. Since they moved to Shawnee, KS, she had worked for Hallmark Cards, and they had operated a number of booths in local antique shops for more than 20 years. She was instrumental & a driving force in establishing the Autism Society of Johnson Co. (now "of the Heartland") and passing state legislation to extend training, care & assistance to children within the Autism Spectrum. Monica was an avid collector of antique sewing buttons & was an active member of the National Button Society, Kansas Button Society (past President), the Missouri Button Society & she attended their conventions all over the country. In 2005 she published a book on buttons, "It's All About Celluloid Buttons", that was well received & she has sold to button collectors all over the country & overseas. Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 20, at Amos Family Funeral Home. The family request in lieu of flowers, that contribution be made to the Autism Society of the Heartland, Olathe Health Hospice Care, or a charity of your choosing. Online condolences may be expressed at www.amosfamily.com. Arr.: Amos Family Chapel of Shawnee, 913-631-5566.