Dorothy Darlene Reinert

Dorothy Darlene Reinert passed away in her sleep Monday, October 26, 2026. She was 97 years old.

Darlene was born in Atchison, Kansas, in 1929. She came to Kansas City when she was 20 years old, along with her baby daughter, Marcia. She had to find a job, but first had to find day care. She finally talked the Salvation Army into watching Marcia while she worked at the Osteopathic Hospital as a secretary.

Darlene eventually became an administrative assistant at Pro-Vita Company, an animal health company, where she worked for more than 10 years.

When she was in her early 30s, she managed to purchase a house in Shawnee, Kansas, where she lived for over 50 years. During those years, Darlene became interested in horticulture and could often be seen working in her yard, planting bushes, trees and flowers.

While still working at Pro-Vita, she and her daughter opened a book shop in Shawnee. But unfortunately, it failed after two years. When Darlene left Pro-Vita, she worked at Howard, Needles, Tammen & Bergendorf and later at Lutz, Daily & Brain, both engineering firms.

Her final job was at Bayer, Animal Health Division, from which she retired in 1994.

Darlene was a great animal lover. Over the years she owned many dogs and cats, a lot of them strays.

Darlene leaves her daughter, Marcia, and husband Bruce Montgomery; and nephews and nieces.

The family would like to extend its sincere appreciation to the staff of Golden Hearts, an assisted living facility, where Darlene lived for the last five years of her life, as well as Good Shepherd Hospice.

There will be a Graveside service at 1:00 p.m., Friday, October 30, 2026, at Shawnee Cemetery.