Obituary for Jennifer Michelle Beall Lyman
Jennifer Michelle Beall Lyman, loving daughter, stepdaughter, sister and niece, died unexpectedly on August 11, 2019 in north Kansas City, KS.
Jennifer was born in Albuquerque, NM on July 21, 1976 to Stephanie Dawn Thomas Beall and Lowell David Beall. At age 2, she and her mother moved to rural Emporia KS, where Donald Ray Thomas became her stepfather, and helped influence her much loved sense of humor.
Jennifer attended Admire Elementary School and graduated from Northern Heights High School. She played volleyball and was a cheerleader as well as an honor student, and was proud in her senior year to be NHS's first female President of Honor Society in 1994.
Jennifer's 2-yr high school summer job as teller at Americus State Bank led her to pursue a career as a Senior Payroll Specialist in Ventura CA, and later in Overland Park, KS. Her favorite part of that job was managing accounts for major rock and roll bands, including the Eagles while on tour, and she was thrilled to be on a first name basis with Dave Matthews of Dave Matthews Band.
In 2006, she made the decision to leave the corporate world to pursue a life-long passion of animal care and rescue. She served as a kennel tech at facilities in VA, MD, TX and Kansas City, most recently 2018-19 at KC Pet Project, where her experience and skills put her at the front line in their process of intake and management of abused animals of all kinds. Jennifer also operated Jenni-Furs, her own business of dog and cat daycare and boarding at her home in Austin TX between 2010-2017. She was a loving mother to a long line of rescued pets over the years, including a dog, 2 cats and 2 turtles still living in Austin.
Jennifer was a talented artist from a young age, and loved sketching and painting animals and landscapes. She was an avid walker, and often found her art subjects through daily 2-mile walks. She was comedy's biggest fan, and sent links of stand up comedians to her family frequently. She also loved live music, and in the past several years developed a love for theater and musicals that her mother shares.
Jennifer married Larry Lyman in 1996. They divorced in 2005.
Jennifer and Tim Pflugradt became domestic partners later that year, and married on January 10, 2010. They divorced Nov 2018, yet continued to be good friends. In Jenny's last year, Dennis (Mike) Kaminski was her domestic partner. He preceded her in death on June 12, 2019.
Jenny is survived by her mother and stepfather, Stephanie Thomas and Thomas Maiorana of Baldwin City; stepfather and stepmother Donald and Sandra Thomas, and her brother Wyvon Thomas and his fiancée, Heidi Thompson, all of Bonner Springs, KS; grandmother Martha Miller of San Angelo, TX; and many favorite aunts, uncles and cousins. Her father preceded her in death.
A memorial service and celebration of life reception will be held on Sunday, October 6, 1:00-4:00 pm at 13700 Berger Ave, Bonner Springs KS 66012.
The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be sent to Austin Pets Alive, 1156 W Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78703.
Jennifer was born in Albuquerque, NM on July 21, 1976 to Stephanie Dawn Thomas Beall and Lowell David Beall. At age 2, she and her mother moved to rural Emporia KS, where Donald Ray Thomas became her stepfather, and helped influence her much loved sense of humor.
Jennifer attended Admire Elementary School and graduated from Northern Heights High School. She played volleyball and was a cheerleader as well as an honor student, and was proud in her senior year to be NHS's first female President of Honor Society in 1994.
Jennifer's 2-yr high school summer job as teller at Americus State Bank led her to pursue a career as a Senior Payroll Specialist in Ventura CA, and later in Overland Park, KS. Her favorite part of that job was managing accounts for major rock and roll bands, including the Eagles while on tour, and she was thrilled to be on a first name basis with Dave Matthews of Dave Matthews Band.
In 2006, she made the decision to leave the corporate world to pursue a life-long passion of animal care and rescue. She served as a kennel tech at facilities in VA, MD, TX and Kansas City, most recently 2018-19 at KC Pet Project, where her experience and skills put her at the front line in their process of intake and management of abused animals of all kinds. Jennifer also operated Jenni-Furs, her own business of dog and cat daycare and boarding at her home in Austin TX between 2010-2017. She was a loving mother to a long line of rescued pets over the years, including a dog, 2 cats and 2 turtles still living in Austin.
Jennifer was a talented artist from a young age, and loved sketching and painting animals and landscapes. She was an avid walker, and often found her art subjects through daily 2-mile walks. She was comedy's biggest fan, and sent links of stand up comedians to her family frequently. She also loved live music, and in the past several years developed a love for theater and musicals that her mother shares.
Jennifer married Larry Lyman in 1996. They divorced in 2005.
Jennifer and Tim Pflugradt became domestic partners later that year, and married on January 10, 2010. They divorced Nov 2018, yet continued to be good friends. In Jenny's last year, Dennis (Mike) Kaminski was her domestic partner. He preceded her in death on June 12, 2019.
Jenny is survived by her mother and stepfather, Stephanie Thomas and Thomas Maiorana of Baldwin City; stepfather and stepmother Donald and Sandra Thomas, and her brother Wyvon Thomas and his fiancée, Heidi Thompson, all of Bonner Springs, KS; grandmother Martha Miller of San Angelo, TX; and many favorite aunts, uncles and cousins. Her father preceded her in death.
A memorial service and celebration of life reception will be held on Sunday, October 6, 1:00-4:00 pm at 13700 Berger Ave, Bonner Springs KS 66012.
The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be sent to Austin Pets Alive, 1156 W Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78703.