Mara Gee

Mara Jean Hughes was born Friday June 27, 1958 in Kansas City, Missouri to Marilyn and Roy Lee Hughes. She later adopted the last name Gee when her mother was remarried to her stepfather, James Gee on January 14,1963.

Mara gave her life to Christ at an early age and attended St. John Missionary Baptist Church faithfully with her parents and sisters Pamela, Lori, Yolanda and Minnie, where she was involved in Sunday school and choir.

Mara attended IS.Chick elementary, and then Southeast junior and senior high schools in Kansas City, Mo. She loved Southeast and was proud to be a 'Knight' . She was a member of ROTC and Majorette.

After graduating high school in 1976, Mara began working at the University of Missouri- Kansas City where she retired from in June 2020 after serving fourty-four years as a trusted and valued employee. She also worked diligently to earn her Bachelors of Arts in Liberal Studies from the university in 2007 while serving as a full-time employee, mother and partner.

Mara met Maurice 'Rashid' Reynolds-Bey in 1970 while working for the Joy summer program at Hickman Mills High School. The couple went on to create a family together, sharing two children Maurice and Miya, both of whom adored, honored and maintained very strong relationships with their mother and father throughout their lives.

Mara was a caring, loving, and devoted mother who never failed to make sacrifices to protect and provide for her children, even after the untimely passing of her oldest child, her son Maurice in March 2021. She continued to be a warm, bright, funny light that made everyone around her feel comfortable and appreciated.

Mara had a spark for creativity from an early age that she carried into adulthood. She loved fashion, shopping, pottery, delicious foods and interior home design. One of the last crafts she aspired to relearn and master was embroidery.

Mara made her final transition on Thursday January 15, 2026 at St Luke's Hospital in Kansas City. She was proceeded in death by her parents Marilyn & James Gee, and Roy Lee Hughes; her only son Maurice Jermaine Reynolds; two sisters Pamela Antwine (James) and Lori Gee, brothers-in-love Michael Harris and Eric Harris; a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and other loved ones. Mara leaves to cherish her memory, her daughter Miya Imani Reynolds; long-time partner and friend Maurice Reynolds-Bey; two younger sisters Yolanda Gee and Minnie Gee, step-brother Ronny Gee; brother-in-love Bruce Reynolds; nieces and nephews Freddie Gee, Ashlyn Antwine, Jeffery Perkins, Jason Antwine, and Alyssa Shephard; many other relatives, friends and loved ones.

Mara Jean Gee will most certainly always be missed and remembered by all who knew and loved her.