November 26, 1963 - January 9, 2024
Heather Shannon Samuel of Lenexa, Kansas passed away peacefully on January 9, 2024 surrounded by those who loved her after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Born in Toronto, Canada on November 26, 1963, Heather moved with her family to the U.S at a young age and spent her early childhood years in Natick, Massachusetts before moving to California at the age of 12. Heather attended dental hygiene school at Clark College in Vancouver, Washington, and practiced her craft in that area before moving to the Kansas City area in 1988 to attend the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Dentistry, earning both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in dental Hygiene in 1990 and 1991, respectively. She completed her education at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, earning a master’s degree in public health in 2008.
For 30 years, Heather taught Dental Hygiene at Johnson County Community College before retiring in 2022. She loved teaching, and no doubt many of her students will attest to her being a tough, no-excuses professor, who always made learning fun and with their acquisition of knowledge always the top priority. Heather particularly had a passion for public health and serving the oral health needs of underserved communities. Heather is responsible for bringing to fruition an innovative program called Oral Health on Wheels (OHOW) in 2008 that involved soliciting funding from outside sources to purchase a 40-foot truck that housed a fully equipped dental clinic staffed by Heather, a dentist and dental hygiene students. Heather even trained for and earned her CDL so she could drive the truck! Fifteen years later, the first truck has been replaced, this time fully funded by the college, and OHOW is an important part of the program’s learning curriculum, serving clients of Johnson County Developmental Support (JCDS) and other underserved populations in Johnson County, Kansas.
Heather’s selfless dedication to her profession and to serving the needs of underserved populations was formally recognized by The University of Missouri Kansas City when she was named 2023 Alumni of the Year for the School of Dentistry. Heather served on the boards of local civic organizations, Including REACH Healthcare Foundation (Board of Directors) and Evergreen Community of Johnson County in Olathe (Executive Committee and Board Chair) and on the Advisory Board of Easters Seals Midwest. In addition to community board service, Heather has previously been involved with State of Kansas initiatives, serving on the Dental Workforce Cabinet and Development and Planning Committee of Kansas Oral Health Plans. As a long-time member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Kansas City, Missouri, she served the church in many different capacities over the years including Altar Guild and Vestry.
Her husband Roger came into Heather’s life in 2013 and the couple were married in 2017. During their all-too-short time together, they have enjoyed traveling to England, France, Ireland and Italy as well as many trips within the U.S., and have enjoyed their many rounds of golf together at Milburn Country Club and elsewhere. A passionate and talented needlepointer, the Samuel home is adorned with many of her works that will provide wonderful memories to all who visit.
Anyone who spent any time with Heather has heard her ask the question many times, “Does it bring you joy?” It was truly her mantra for living her life, but really it was she who dispensed joy to so many others. She was a wonderful mother to Thomas and wife to Roger, and a great, great friend to almost everyone she ever met.
Preceding Heather in death is her father, Thomas Wilson Shannon, who passed in 2005. Surviving Heather are her loving husband, Roger; son Thomas Flick and wife Monica of Omaha, Nebraska; stepchildren Chelsea Samuel of Oakland, California and Reid Samuel of Kansas City, Missouri; mother Barbara Budd of Colorado Springs, Colorado and sister Paula Shannon of Tukwila, Washington, as well as many loving members of her extended family.
Heather would like to thank her dedicated and compassionate care teams at Advent Health and St. Luke’s Hospice, as well as so many caring friends and family members who offered so much support through difficult times. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider memorial gifts to the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Altar Guild (standrewkc.org) or to the Advent Health Foundation (adventhealthkcfoundation.com).
A celebration of Heather’s life will be held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Kansas City, Missouri at 3:00 PM on Thursday, January 25, 2024, with a reception to follow at Milburn Country Club, Overland Park, KS.
