MARK ALLEN GROOM

1958 - 2015

MARGARET (KELLI) GROOM Mark and Kelli Groom may not have been perfect, although Mark would say he was, they were perfect for each other. Married nearly 37 years, they believed their union was successful because they shared the same values: Values of family, honesty, respect and integrity. They believed that when it was your time it was your time and all part of God's plan. Neither Mark nor Kelli would have wanted to travel life's journey without the other, and on August 4, 2015, they both departed taking their last Harley ride to heaven. Family will welcome friends to celebrate their lives at a visitation held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, at Woods Chapel United Methodist Church, 4725 NE Lakewood Way, Lee's Summit, Mo. Friends may also attend the funeral held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, at the church. Mark Allen Groom was born on Sept. 7, 1958, in Saint Joseph, Mo., to Wayne and Patsy (Bruns) Groom. Margaret (Kelli) Groom was born Oct. 9, 1959, in Kansas City, Mo., to Jerry L. and Haroldine (Hicks) Atwood. Both Mark and Kelli graduated from Lee's Summit High School, Mark in 1977 and Kelli in 1978. They met the summer of 1977 and that fall as a member of the Lee's Summit High School yearbook staff, Kelli would often garner passes to write stories, however, would in fact follow Mark around as he worked for Hartley's Furniture. And so the true love story began with an engagement six months later and marriage on Sept. 16, 1978. They made their home in Harrisonville, Mo., and Mark continued to work for Hartley's Furniture until 1986 when together he and Kelli started their own business, Groom's Appliance Heating and Cooling. Committed to providing high quality customer-focused service, they built a successful business on the foundation of treating others the way you want to be treated. Mark mentored many young men through his business and was known to say "your word is your bond." Customers and family would agree that Mark and Kelli lived by this motto. Although the company demanded many hours, they upheld the belief of family first. Mark and Kelli's two children and four grandchildren were the light of their lives. They have been fixtures in softball dugouts, volleyball courts, football bleachers, and on soccer fields for two generations. Mark and Kelli also loved riding their Harley and enjoyed traveling with friends. The couple is survived by son, Chad Groom and his wife Amy and their children Lili and Jake of Lee's Summit; daughter, Alana Bloom and her husband Jake and their children Brody and Hudson of Blue Springs. Mark is also survived by his parents and sister, Annette Hinton and her husband Richard and family, along with other extended family members. Kelli was preceded in death by her parents and her stepfather, Richard Nieweg. Her other survivors include brother, Kevin Atwood and his wife Cheryl and family; sister, Colleen Sims and her husband Ed and family; and stepsister, Janne' Martin and her husband Jon, along with other extended family members. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to Lee's Summit Parks and Recreation, the American Diabetes Association or the Alzheimer's Association. The family would like to express gratitude for the thoughts, prayers and the overwhelming support sent our way from friends, clients and the community during this very difficult time.