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Anita Vail Obituary

Anita Leigh Vail, 57, Lawrence, KS, passed away Sunday, June 17, 2012 at her home.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Thursday at the Tonganoxie Christian Church. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Private burial will follow in Uniontown Cemetery, Uniontown, KS.

Anita was born in Kansas City, on March 13, 1955, and graduated from Turner High School in 1973. She moved from Kansas City to rural Lawrence in 1984. She worked at Howard Pines Greenhouse and Garden Center for 25 years.

She is survived by her husband of 38 years Michael L. Vail; four children, Kara M. Gourley (Troy), Amy E. Brown (Kevin), Eric M. Vail (Amanda) and Nathan L. Vail (Lindsey), and 10 grandchildren, Chelsie Grammer, Tyler & Chase Gourley, Owen & Keeley Brown, Keegan, Irelyn & Michaiah Vail, Hallie & Quinlynn Vail.

Also surviving are her parents Roger & W. Jean Heckman, and her brother Kenneth Heckman (Delores). Her sister Teresa Burks lost her battle with breast cancer in 1997.

The family suggests memorials to LMH Oncology Center C/O Quisenberry Funeral Home 604 E 4th Street Tonganoxie, KS 66086. To leave an online condolence for the family please go to www.quisenberryfh.com.

Please sign this guestbook at Obituaries.LJWorld.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Lawrence Journal-World on Jun. 19, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for Anita Vail

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Debbie Oliver Felix

June 14, 2024

Anita, Debbie Bunce and myself were the three amigos. All through grade school we couldn´t be separated! Loved being best friends!

Debbie Felix

June 13, 2021

I remember a sweet best friend. Spending the nights at each other’s house. Trio friends: Anita, Debbie Bunce and myself. Always doing crazy things together. Getting my ears pierced at her house! Her beautiful long brown hair. Though we drifted apart as we got older, the memories never fade. ❤

Terri Harbour Izard

June 27, 2012

I am so sorry to hear about Anita. We were such great friends starting in 7th grade and all through high school. I will never forget coming to her house and her mom making tacos for us. What fun! My prayers to her family.

Debbie Oliver Felix

June 26, 2012

My thoughts go out to your family. Anita was such a sweetheart. I was so lucky to call her a best friend all through school. She was kind, fun and held my hand as her Mom pierced my ears! We shared lots of dreams as kids. I know how much her family meant to her. She will be smiling down on you.

June 26, 2012

With deepest sympathy to the family during your time of sorrow. Psalms 46:1 says: God is for us a refuge and strength during this difficult time and may God grant you the comfort to endure.

Lisa Rooney

June 25, 2012

Mrs. Vail was a very funny and sweet lady. I remember her from Grant. My mom and her used to love to chat about all us kids. She will be missed. Heaven has received a beautiful angel....

VELMA SKINNER

June 21, 2012

I MET ANITA AT PINES GARDEN CENTER SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND ALWAYS ENJOYED
TALKING TO HER. SHE WILL BE SORELY
MISSED BY EVERYONE.

Cindi Hall

June 20, 2012

Dear Mike, Kara, Amy, Eric, Nathan & family,

We are all so very sorry for your loss. Anita was such a dear person, and we all have great memories of fun times with her and all of you.

Our entire family is out of town, and we are sorry that we will not be able to be there to give each of you a hug and hear about Anita's beautiful life. We've all been heartbroken with you all, from a distance. You're all truly in our thoughts and our prayers.

Love,

The Halls
(Ron, Cindi, Ashlee, Lindsay & families)

Diana Cosgrove

June 20, 2012

My prayers are with your family during this difficult time. I am so sorry for your loss. Anita will truly be missed by everyone whose life she affected.

Sherry Rogers

June 19, 2012

Anita will always hold a special place in my heart. She seem to always find good in everyone. She always had a smile that was priceless even on her bad days. My heart goes out to the whole Vail family. My prayers are with you all. I know from the way she always talked about all of you, you were her world. She will be missed by many.

Debbie Bunce-Page

June 19, 2012

It saddens me to hear this news about Anita....we were best friends during grade school, and I've often wondered about her since high school. My deepest condolences to her family - my prayers are with you all

Tasha Aldrich

June 19, 2012

So sorry to hear of your beautiful mothers passing. Our hearts are with you all.

June 19, 2012

With deepest sympathy to the family during your time of sorrow. Psalms 46:1 says: God is for us a refuge and strength during this difficult time and may God grant you the comfort to endure.

Trina Langsotn

June 19, 2012

Anita was the most important person in my life on many levels. I have learned more from Anita then anyone else in my entire life. I learned to be selfless, independant, loving, caring and the best I can be without the glory of fancy cars, houses, or clothing. I will carry her ideals with me for the rest of my life and I couldn't express that to her if I wanted to no matter how I would of expressed it. I will miss her dearly and I know she is enjoying her sisters company at this time. She is in a sky full of roses and flowers and I know she will be greatly missed. So sorry for this loss.

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