Lee Conney Rainey passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 12, 2020, after a long illness. He was surrounded by his family. He was born September 8, 1933, in Cleveland, Arkansas to the union of Charlie Rainey and Lizzie Archie Rainey. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Lee Welton, and a sister, Charlene.

After his mother passed when he was 12 years old, he and his brother moved to Kansas City to be raised by her sister, Katherine Price. Lee joined Metropolitan AME Zion Church as a youth and served as an usher. He attended Booker T. Washington Grade School, and R.T. Coles Vocational and Junior High School.

Lee served in the 6th Armored Division of the U.S. Army at Fort Leonard Wood Missouri for two years and received an honorable discharge in 1955.

Shortly after leaving the military, he joined Hallmark Cards, where he met his future wife, Marie McElwee. His responsibilities at Hallmark included grounds maintenance and inside plant care.  Lee and Marie married in 1959, at Allen Chapel AME Church in Kansas City. To this union, two children were born, Carla and Brian. Lee retired from Hallmark in 1996 after 40 years.

At Metropolitan, Lee served on the Trustee Board and was a member of the Male Chorus until his health began to fail.

He was a fix-it man and could fix anything that was broken; cars, bikes, furniture and so on.  He loved to repair washers and dryers and found it relaxing.  He turned the four-room house he and Marie bought into a two-story, eight-room home with finished basement, almost single handedly. He loved local sports and was an avid fan of the Royals, Chiefs and Kings when they were still here. He loved to hunt and fish, and enjoyed riding bikes and rollercoasters with Carla and Brian. He loved dogs, and had a special love for Martin birds and erected several Martin birdhouses around the home to attract them.  For a time, he played baseball before deciding to raise a family.  He bowled with several leagues over the years, but he especially loved to bowl with his children who always tried to beat him.

Lee leaves to mourn: his wife of 60 years, Marie; his children, Carla and Brian; sister, Joyce; nieces and nephews, Cheryl, Terri, Toni, Genise, Dwayne and DeAnthony; and a host of cousins and friends.

Services for Mr. Rainey will be held 12:00 P.M. Saturday, January 18, 2020, at Metropolitan A.M.E. Zion Church.  Burial Brooking Cemetery.  Friends may call from 11:00 A.M. until service time Saturday at the church.

Thoughtful care and services provided by E. S. Eley & Sons Funeral Chapel, Inc .