The daughter of Jerry and Delores Cantrell said that her parents have been married for 56 years and they think they cannot live without each other. 

A few months ago, when Jerry Cantrell was about to undergo open heart surgery, Robyn Childs said that he and Delores (Jeanne) (the middle name) Delores) said: "We pray that we can come together." 

Childs admitted that this belief and desire provided some comfort after the long-term independent couple had a car accident on Missouri Highway 291 south of the Missouri River on November 26. 

Both Jerry and Jeanne were pronounced dead at the scene of M-291 and Cement City Road in Sugar Creek. The celebration of life is scheduled to be held at the VFW Hall at 12810 East Kentucky Road, Independence, at 2 6 pm on Sunday. The service will be held at Heartland Cremation & Burial in Raytown at 6pm on Monday.  

"They are going to Liberty City for dinner," Childs said. "Every Friday night they go to dinner, sometimes with friends." 

"Thank God, they don't have grandchildren. When I was 3 years old, she was my dad's partner." 

The accident is still being investigated by the Missouri Highway Patrol, but when a southbound car collided with them, the Cantrells apparently tried to cross the southbound M-291 lane to the northbound lane. There are no traffic lights at the intersection. Although traffic on Cement City Road must stop, traffic on M-291 can only give way when turning left into Cement City Road or LaBenite Park. A spokesman for the Highway Patrol said that another driver was seriously injured but apparently not in danger of life. 

Childs said the couple have been active since retirement. Jerry lost some weight, but recovered well after heart surgery. Jeanne likes shopping, but has a lower frequency after knee replacement. Many times, people will find him driving a golf cart near their neighborhood in the Independence West, sometimes with the aforementioned 3-year-old child. 

"Always; he had to check all the neighbors," Childs said. "My father has lived in that neighborhood all his life." 

In the past week, tributes from friends, neighbors, and former colleagues have flooded social media because people remember her smile, his kind nature as a boss, his golf cart and the large garden that many people have benefited from. 

"They are my 56-year-old neighbors, and our children grew up together," a friend posted. "Jerry always planted a large garden and gave most of it to friends and neighbors. He drove a golf cart nearby, took his grandchildren, and stopped to talk to the neighbors outside. Jenny took care of the children and neighbors wholeheartedly. Grandchildren. 

"The whole community is shocked; they are missed every day." 

Childs said that Jerry and Jeanne Cantrell went to school together and graduated from Van Horn High School in 1962, but they didn't start dating until they reconnected at a party not long after. Like his brother, Jerry was an Eagle Scout. He was originally a sideliner for Kansas City Electric and Lighting Company and later became fleet supervisor. He held the position for many years. Jenny was a laboratory technician and later became a supervisor, first at the Independent District Hospital and later at the Central Medical Center. Both retired ten years ago. 

"When they retired for the first time, they had a big RV and often went to Arizona," Childs said. "A group of people will miss them very much. If I can only be half as good, I will be satisfied with myself. 

"They did everything together. They traveled together, loved together, lived together, and died together."