Vada Dorene Carlton

Vada Dorene (Squires) Carlton passed away on February 23, 2026 at her home in Kansas City, Missouri. She was born on December 7, 1933, in Harrison County, Missouri, to Gordon and Clara (Smith) Squires.

Vada attended first through eighth grade at Mount Pleasant School, a one-room schoolhouse located on the comer of her family's farm northeast of Blythedale. She attended Blythedale High School, where she played volleyball and softball and participated in band and choir.

In 1955, Vada moved to Kansas City, where she worked at the Hotel Muehlebach and the Italian Gardens Restaurant, before devoting herself to being a stay-at-home mother, actively supporting her children through PTA, Cub Scouts, and their many activities. A gifted artist, she took art classes at the Kansas City Art Institute and nurtured her creative talents throughout her life. She created many beautiful paintings, sharing them with her family.

As her children grew older, Vada returned to the workforce, serving as Director of Volunteer Services at Research Medical Center. She later managed a 7-Eleven convenience store and a 1-Hour Martinizing Dry Cleaners.

In retirement, Vada and her husband, Harold Carlton, embraced their love of music, traveling throughout the region to attend Bluegrass festivals and making frequent trips to Branson to enjoy its many live shows.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; her daughter, Rebecca Blessing; her brother, Maurice Squires; her sister, Betty Jo Jones; great-granddaughter, Elizabeth McCoy; and twin great-grandsons, Simon and Morris Isom.

She is lovingly remembered by her daughters, Rhonda (Bob) McCoy and Maria (Chris) Miller; her son, Anthony Totero; sister Velda (Garold) Smith; seven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; along with many nieces and nephews.

Family inurnment will take place at Akron Cemetery, Harrison County, Missouri at a later date.