Lloyd Herbert Sage, 77, of Kansas City North, died at home on Jan. 7, 2008. The Mass of Christian Burial will be 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, at St. Raphael Catholic Church, with a visitation from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church; burial in Resurrection North Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Immacolata Manor, Liberty, MO or St. Raphael's Catholic Church, Kansas City North. He was the sixth child in a family of seven born to George Verdier and Susan Amanda (Browning) Sage. Born on Nov. 14, 1930, he grew up very poor near the town of Ballard, Mo., on the family farm. He said many times that "We didn't know we were poor we thought life was just tough." The one thing they all had at the farm was a deep love for each other and a strong belief in Jesus and the teachings of the bible. He graduated from Ballard high school in 1949. He met his wife Jean when he was stationed at Malmstrom Airbase in Great Falls, Mont., while serving his country as a medic in the Air Force during the Korean War 1949-1953. He served some time in the Azores back then. Lloyd and Jean were married 55 years. Lloyd worked at Gus and Jacks Tires in Great Falls for about 12 years and later operated an Enco full service gas station. In 1964 he took his family to Kansas City, Mo.. In Kansas City he worked at The Ford Motor Company for 31 years before retiring at age 65 in January 1996. "It isn't what you have – it's what you do with what you have" that is what Dad often said. It applied in so many ways. Dad was your best friend and mine and everyone's grandpa. The friend of his neighbors and even strangers. He did those jobs nobody else would do, no matter how dirty, difficult or lengthy. He was extremely optimistic. If someone said it was impossible he'd say "It's even harder and could just get worse if you don't try." When life gave him lemons he'd make lemonade. Every earthly possession he had was shared with his family and he loved to take them all out for a good meal. Lloyd had the greatest love for his family and friends. He enjoyed receiving and sending e-mails by the hundreds. He loved to laugh and he loved his God. He loved to share both of these with everyone. He was the spark and spirit of our family. He had a hope for everyone to believe in Jesus and that we would all meet in heaven someday by God's grace. He often spoke about family heritage and enjoyed trips to see family and even meeting new long lost relatives. If you were in Kansas City he'd be overjoyed to give you a ride in his 1929 Model A Ford, a ground up retirement rebuild project shared with his brother, Dave, and son, Loren. Lloyd loved life and especially loved all his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He would often recite poetry and tell wonderful jokes and stories. There are few men like "Herb" as many called him. He is truly irreplaceable. He will be missed in so many ways but the memory of him will long endure in the hearts of those who knew him. He led us all by his example. He was preceded in death by a brother, Lawrence Parker Sage; a son, Lloyd H. Sage Jr.; a daughter, Angela Lorraine Sage; and a granddaughter, Brandie Jean Dunbar. Survivors include his wife, Jean of the home; his son, Steven and wife Karen Sage of Liberty, Mo., and their children Michelle and husband, Brett Schultz of Liberty, Erik and Krista Sage of Olathe, Kan., Amanda and Anna Sage of Liberty; his son, Loren and wife Lorie Sage of Kansas City, and three sons, John, James and David Sage; his daughter, Helen Sage, and her daughter, Amber and husband Aaron Stull of Parkersburg, West Virginia; Helen's son, Paul Dunbar and wife Tanya; his daughter, Patricia Noel Sage of Immacolata Manor in Liberty; great-grandchildren include Erik and Ashlyn Schultz of Liberty, Luke and Keri Sage of Olathe, Kan., and the yet to be born one he called number five, Andrew Stull of Parkersburg; that's six children, 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Arr.: McGilley Antioch Chapel (816) 453-7700.

Published in the Kansas City Star on 1/9/2008.