Reser Funeral Home
Roberta “Peggy” DeGraffenreid, age 92, of Warsaw, Missouri passed away surrounded by family on Wednesday April 26, 2023 at the Centerpoint Medical Center in Independence, Missouri. She was born on January 3, 1931 in Warsaw, Missouri the daughter of Ray Samuel Johnson and Ila Mae (Land) Johnson.
Peggy grew up in Warsaw and later moved to Kansas City. She was united in marriage to Paul Gardner, Sr. and later to Earl DeGraffenreid. Peggy was employed with the Eastgate Junior High School as the Kitchen Manager. She later owned and operated Peggy’s Cafe on Main Street in Warsaw and spent several years helping her family at The View Restaurant until her retirement in 2009.
Peggy was a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary and helped in the kitchen during bingo. She also helped when her daughters were in the Girl Scouts. Peggy loved to make wine, quilt, sew, garden and cook. She was famous for her coconut cream pie even mowed her own yard until she was in her 80’s.
Peggy is preceded in death by her husband Earl DeGraffenreid, her life companion of twenty-five years, Gerry VerHelst, her parents, Ray and Ila Johnson, two sons; Paul and Bobby Gardner, a sister, Wanda “Corky” Hill and five brothers; Raymond, Kenny, Dennis, Nicky and Phillip Johnson.
Peggy is survived by three children; Jim Gardner, and his wife Cookie, Cathy Chance and Lou Breshears, and her husband Mark, two sisters; Phyllis Smith and Shirley Lear and her husband Bob, and a daughter-in-law, Freda Gardner. She is also survived by many grandchildren and great grandchildren numerous other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at the Reser Funeral Home in Warsaw, Missouri with Pastor Barry Edwards officiating. Visitation will be held Monday evening from 6:00 until 7:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Interment will follow the funeral at the Riverside Cemetery in Warsaw.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Benton County Cancer Fund.
