August 9th, 2022 became the day that Cris Vernon Fonville (a Godly, family man), went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Cris was born November 25th, 1954 to Earnest and Carole Fonville. He grew up in the Northeast Kansas City, MO area where he attended James Elementary, NE Junior High, and graduated in 1974 from Northeast Senior High, where he played many sports.
Church at Bethany Baptist in KCMO was an important part of Cris’ life with many good Christian friends. During those years, he was actively involved in Boy Scouts, where he earned his Eagle Scout and attended H. Roe Bartle Camp in Osceola, MO. Cris surrounded himself by God’s work through his first job at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
After High School, he headed on to College life at Southwest Baptist College (now SBU) in Bolivar, MO. This is where Cris met his best friend, Nancy Meister. Their friendship grew to be one of a special love. With that love a marriage joined them as one in Christ February 10th, 1979 which brought about 43+ years of a beautiful journey.
Three awesome children joined their loving family: Keith, Brian, and Angela. Cris provided for his family as a Sheet Metal Worker with Local #2 KCMO since 1979. Cris became involved in his kids’ activities from sports, to scouting, to church. He raised them in a loving home by making sure they were given the love of Christian friends. Cris became a deacon at Ruskin Hts. Baptist Church in Kansas City, MO as well as serving on committees. From Bethany; to Ruskin; to Antioch in Harrisonville, MO; to First Baptist in Bolivar, MO; to Ridgewood Baptist (English/German) in WI; to Grace Point in KCMO; to Hyde Park Baptist in Austin, TX; to First Baptist in Marble Falls, TX; plus more.
Cris had to take an early retirement due to illness in 2006, but still made sure his family was first surrounded by God and Christian friends. Grandkids were a very important part of his life. Two of his grandkids, David Cristopher and Aubrey Jacob (A.J.) lived with him since their birth. Those memories with them were very precious times. If you were friends on his Facebook, you know that the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals were his Sports Teams. With that being said, RED, was his color. When the pandemic hit, livestream service became the norm through Hyde Park Baptist in Austin, TX. Cris called HPBC his home, because it is filled with totally awesome Christian people, including a Bible Believing preacher, Dr. Kie Bowman.
Illness was a struggle for Cris, but his family stood by him giving their whole heart and soul through their eternal love. He was a fighter to the very end.
Cris Vernon Fonville is survived by his wife: his love, Nancy Meister Fonville; three children, Keith (Amber) Drexel, MO; Brian Fonville Leavenworth, KS; and Angela Fonville Joplin, MO; six grandkids, Michael (Jennifer), Chance, Logan, Harley, David Cristopher, and Aubrey Jacob (A.J.); two great grandkids, Haven and Timothy Wayne; father, Earnest Fonville of Warsaw; sister, Beverly Thomas Huntsville, AL (1 nephew 1 niece); brother, Danny Fonville (Cheryl) Kansas City, MO (2 Nieces 2 nephews); half-sister, Lynlee Dotson (Jason) Warsaw, MO (2 Nieces); brother-in-law: Ernal Meister Carthage, MO (1 niece 1 nephew). There are many other great nieces and nephews and cousins, including one special cousin he considered like an uncle, David Fonville (family) England. Cris was preceded in death by his mother, Carole Fonville; brother-in-law, Jack Thomas; mother-in-law, Janice Fonville; ex daughter-in-law, Jessica Neal.
His family will receive family and friends from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Thursday, August 18, 2022 at Meyers Funeral Chapel, 1600 W. Main St. Blue Springs, MO. Burial will immediately follow at the Blue Springs Cemetery in Blue Springs, MO. Memories of Cris and words of comfort for his family may be shared at meyersfuneralchapel.com.
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