Cleora Catherine Borgmier

Cleora Catherine (Cora) Heath Borgmier went home June 30, 2017 to share stories, play the piano and sing the day away. Born Sept 2, 1919 in Platte County MO to Clella and Dan Heath, she was fourth of ten children and was both honored and bedeviled when born between the only two sons! Two sisters survive Cora: Patsy (Al) Holland, Independence, MO and Dianne (Joe) Bockelman, Warsaw, MO with whom she shared a birth date. Her only child Kathryn (Kelly) Jennings and husband Richard Bunn survive her in Tulsa. Many nieces and nephews called her Aunt Cora.

Cora and dear husband Albert Borgmier married August 6, 1940 and shared 66 years together until his passing in 2006. Cora was a farmer’s daughter and a farmer’s wife. She cooked lip-smacking dinners, canned garden veggies and tended chickens with the best. But teaching was her greatest skill. She earned a year at Maryville Teacher’s College – now Northwest MO State University in Maryville MO – by winning a writing contest about the importance of the new law called “Social Security.” She later completed her degree at University of Kansas City, now UMKC.

She career started in a one-room school that included some of her youngest siblings. She assisted Smithville (MO) parents in starting the first Kindergarten. She taught various grades at Smithville, Nashua, and East Buchanan (Gower, MO) and ended her career as a school librarian. “Interactive” describes her classrooms. Former students would stop her in the community and say “Remember when we did. . . !” We wonder what she would have done with 21st century technology!

She was a writer, artist and musician. Church and music were central to the Heath family. With her eyesight failing, she said she could no longer read music to play piano where she lived at the Gardens. Her daughter told her “No way!” because Cora played be ear; so she continued to play to the residents’ delight. This continued at her new home at Brookdale, Owasso OK.

Special thanks to the Gardens at Barry Road staff (Kansas City MO) and the Brookdale Owasso staff (OK) for their care; and to Violet Edwards, Brookdale and Shannon Clark with New Century Hospice. Contributions, rather than flowers, are suggested to Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, Tulsa or the Tuesday Morning Study Group, Smithville Methodist Church, Smithville MO.