Celeste Marie Kinney of Lake Charles, Louisiana passed away on Good Friday, April 18th, 2025, at St. Lukes Hospice House in Kansas City, Missouri. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later time to allow travel arrangements for families out of state. We will notify them when that time comes.
Celeste was born on the 30th of July 1941 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. She was married to Carl Kinney for 42 years. Celeste was a true Ragin’ Cajun. A feisty, beautiful & courageous woman.
Celeste was an avid bookworm & enjoyed spending her time in the summer sun gardening & going to garage sales. She was an incredibly proud grandmother, lovingly known exclusively as Grammie. She was a great cook & enjoyed crafting Cajun cookouts to bring the entire family together, followed by a family viewing of the latest films on DVD. She took many photos, encapsulating every moment in her life. She loved mailing cards, not just for celebration but just to say “hello” & “I love you.” Grammie was a giver. She never asked why somebody needed help. If somebody needed it, she gave them the world.
During her life, Celeste drove a “Hot Shot” truck delivering materials to the oil rigs along the Gulf Coast. It was in this line of work that she met her future husband, Carl Kinney. Following this she was a nurse’s aide at the local hospital. After the hospital closed its doors, she provided at-home hospice care to those who needed it the most. She touched many people’s hearts during her career & outside of work. She was compassionate & continued to care for others throughout her retirement.
She was preceded in death by her parents Albert Barber & Lulu Henry-Barber, her first son Jeffrey Foster, her brothers Sid Barber & Henry Barber, her sister Martha Woodard, sister-in-law Opal Touchard, brother-in-law Raymond Kinney, sister-in-law Peggy Kinney.
She is survived by her husband Carl Kinney of Independence, Missouri, her son Mark Foster of St. Joseph, Missouri, her son John Vance & wife Jonna Vance of Blue Springs, Missouri, her brother Carrol Barber of Bourg, Louisiana, her sister Linda Cindy of Texas, sisters-in-law Casey Barber, Elaine Barber, Charlotte Barber, Shirlane Kinney-Wheeler, Sharn Kinney, Vicky Kinney, Joy Kinney, brothers-in-law Robert Kinney & Lawrence Kinney, 10 grandchildren & 12 great-grandchildren.
We will miss her and will continue to cherish every moment shared in our lives. We love you, Grammie.
Obituary submitted by the family.
Royer’s New Salem Funeral Home ~ Independence, MO (816) 796-8600