Dolores Vernice Mansur Kitterman, 91, passed away in Lee's Summit, Missouri, on April 20, 2021.

Dolores was born on February 10, 1930, in rural Ray County, Missouri, the eldest of the three daughters of Alva and Sara Pence Mansur. She attended rural Missouri elementary schools through sixth grade, including the one-room Mansur schoolhouse. At the outset of the Second World War, her father accepted a position at the Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, where she began seventh grade. The following year, her father transferred to Whiteman Air Force Base, and she began attending Warrensburg public schools. Graduating as salutatorian of Warrensburg High School's class of 1947, she was awarded a scholarship to Central Missouri State College (now the University of Central Missouri), graduating with a bachelor's degree in History in 1951. While studying for her degree, she worked part-time with veterans attending college on the GI Bill. She also completed some post-graduate work at CMSC and the University of Kansas City (now the University of Missouri at Kansas City).

Following college graduation, she worked for Mid-Continents Airlines until their merger with Braniff Airways. After a brief period of employment with Skelly Oil Company, she was contacted by CMSC President Diemer to apply for and was later offered the position of Secretary to the President and Assistant Secretary to the Board of Regents in December 1952. This was the beginning of many years of university employment working with four different university presidents during which she earned two promotions, serving as Administrative Assistant, then Assistant to the President. She was also part of the President's Cabinet, as well as a valued member of many committees, retiring after 43 years of full-time service in 1995.

In recognition of her years of dedication, CMSU History Professor David Rice wrote as part of a tribute published in The Muleskinner, "Her loyalty to the university, her strong sense of confidentiality and her obvious respect for administrators, faculty and students alike have earned her an honored position few others could claim…Even in times of great tension, Mrs. Kitterman's calm and gentle treatment of all parties has been evident and has helped contribute to constructive resolution of differences." In 1995, in recognition of her dedication, loyalty, enthusiasm, and caring, the Board of Regents named their meeting room in the University Student Union the Dolores M. Kitterman Room in her honor.

As she once wrote, "I was a part of the institution's evolving role from a small regional higher education institution with one primary mission to a diversified university with administrators, faculty, students, and alumni who were and are making major contributions to our society. I am proud to have been a part of that success."

A long-time member of Warrensburg's First United Methodist Church, she worked with bequests on behalf of the church. She also was an active member of the university's Emeriti Association, served as an advisor for the Sigma Kappa sorority, worked with Meals on Wheels, and was a volunteer with the Western Missouri Medical Center.

She married John W. "Jay" Kitterman on May 1, 1954, celebrating 65 years of marriage in 2019. They had one daughter Jaylene O'Keefe. In Dolores' spare time, she enjoyed reading, learning about the world through travel, and nurturing friendships with a wide variety of former co-workers.

She is survived by her daughter Jaylene and son-in-law Michael O'Keefe, of Independence, Missouri; sister Phyllis Mast of Independence, Missouri; brother-in-law Robert Boyd of Warrensburg, Missouri; and four nieces and nephews, their spouses and children.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 25, 2021 at the First United Methodist Church in Warrensburg, Missouri. The family will receive friends at the church from 1:30 p.m. until service time. Burial will follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the First United Methodist Church and may be left in the care of Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home.