Rebecca Mae Stutts

REBECCA MAE (ROWE) STUTTS

Rebecca Mae (Rowe) Stutts – "Becky" to all who loved her – was born March 21, 1941, in Douglas County, Missouri, to Leonard and Freda Mae (Hicks) Rowe. She passed away peacefully in her sleep, surrounded by loved ones, on September 10, 2025, in Kansas City, MO.

One Sunday morning in a church in Kansas City, Becky met Louis George Stutts. Maybe, just maybe, it was love at first sight. On May 14, 1960, on her sister Sue's 13th birthday, she married Louis in a little church in the Dodson area of Kansas City, Missouri. Together they raised two children, Louis Eugene ("Gene") and Rebecca Lynn ("Lynn"). They created a home full of love, laughter, wrestling, biscuits and gravy, and the occasional competitive Scrabble match (which Becky almost always won).

In the early years, Becky devoted herself to stretching the family budget and making sure her children had what they needed to succeed. Gene was the apple of her eye. When Lynn came along, Becky redoubled her efforts. She read everything from cereal boxes to billboards to make sure learning was part of every car ride.

Becky later worked from home, soldering circuits for Tortel (later Honeywell). She never missed a beat when it came to cheering her kids on. Whether it was Gene's baseball games, Lynn's adventures in band, or celebrating the joy of her first grandchild, she was there. She cherished her role as "Grandma" and poured love and pride into each new addition to the family.

When Lynn started middle school, Becky stepped into the role of office manager/secretary for her brother-in-law's company, once again balancing family and work with grace. When Louis became sick, she was there, taking care of him and the rest of the family. Through every season, she ensured her kids had new shoes for the first day of school and food on the table. She was an amazing example while raising her own strong, capable children.

Family was the center of Becky's world. Growing up with many moves between Douglas County and Kansas City, her siblings became her true lifelong best friends. Once she settled in Peculiar, after every visit to Ava, she would come home with stories of nieces and nephews, retelling them with joy and pride. She was happiest around a crowded table of siblings and cousins, playing Pitch, swapping stories, and soaking in the company of those she loved most. If she wasn't playing Pitch, she could be seen with a camera in her hand, collecting thousands of photos of her beloved family. Becky did her best to try to teach her granddaughters how to make her delicious biscuits, but thankfully, she was able to pass on the recipe to at least Lynn. Many loved ones have one of her coveted crocheted afghan blankets, a craft that kept her busy when she needed something else to do. In her last years, Becky resided at Jefferson Health Care, where she made new friends, renewed her love of crafts, enjoyed feisty games of Bingo, and was surrounded by a caring community.

Becky is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Louis (1990); five brothers, Bobby Rowe, Russel Evans, John David "JD" Rowe, Billy Rowe, and Jimmy Rowe; and three sisters, Donna Osburn, Helen Breeding, and Florence Stutts.

She is survived by her daughter Lynn (Stutts) Goehring (Craig) of Greenwood, MO; son Gene Stutts (Becky) of Kansas City, MO; grandchildren Teasha Moya (Ricardo), Tamera Ritter, and Agatha McConaughey (Josh), all of Kansas City, MO, Collin Dustin (Britnee) of Belton, MO, and Joy Goehring and Cody Goehring of Greenwood, MO; nine great-grandchildren; three sisters, Sue Downs (Bill), Katie Downs (Robert), and Ellen "Oopie" Austin, all of Ava, MO; one brother, Leonard Rowe of Los Angeles, CA; and many nieces and nephews.

Becky will be remembered for her fierce love of family, sharp humor, and her knack for turning ordinary days into cherished memories. Her legacy endures in laughter, stories, MANY photos, and the rare defeats she suffered in Scrabble.

Funeral services for Becky will be on Friday, September 19, 2025, at 1:00 pm in the Cullen Funeral Home, located at 612 W. Foxwood Dr., Raymore, MO. Visitation will take place from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the funeral home, preceding the services. Interment will follow the services at West Union Cemetery in Peculiar, MO. While flowers are welcome, if you wish to make a donation in her name, over the years, Becky supported City Union Mission, located at 1100 East 11th Street, Kansas City, MO.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278