William "Andy" Hemphill

William Andrew “Andy” Hemphill II, of Kansas City, MO, passed away on Sunday, July 23, 2023, at the age of 79. 

Andy was born and then raised by his widowed mother in Manhattan, KS (his father was killed in action in the South Pacific during WWII when Andy was a toddler). Andy developed a strong work ethic early on. He picked up his first paper route when he was eight years old and continued to work a variety of jobs until, when he was sixteen, he used his savings to help his family buy their first car. Still, Andy had time for fun. He had the run of the neighborhood, and hours of playing “kick the can” and “ghost in the graveyard” and “capture the flag” with friends laid the foundation for a stellar athletic career. In high school, Andy and his teammates won league championships in basketball and a state championship in football, but he always said his greatest “win” occurred early on, during the fall of his freshman year, when his life-long love, Maureen, agreed to be his date to a 9th grade dance that was to celebrate their football team’s undefeated season. They were a couple from that moment on.  

Andy attended Kansas State University (“Go Cats!”) and graduated with a degree in physical education, and in the summer of 1967 he and Maureen moved their young family to Kansas City where Andy began his 45-year teaching career. He was an elementary PE teacher in the North Kansas City School District; and, after earning his master's degree in counseling and administration, a middle school counselor, a middle school and high school vice-principal, and a high school principal in the Park Hill School District; and, finally, after retiring from Park Hill, an elementary and middle school counselor in the Kansas City Missouri Public School District. Andy loved working with kids, in any capacity, whatever their age.  

Andy was an active member of the Platte Woods United Methodist Church for forty-seven years. He enjoyed cooking (and eating!), reading, road trips (he and Maureen visited all fifty states), and people-watching, but what Andy loved most was family life. He and Maureen created a home full of laughter, love, and connection. Whether wrestling on the living room floor with his kids and grandkids (where he would threaten to put them in one of his “world famous holds”), popping popcorn, playing catch, or simply sitting around sharing stories, in countless ways Andy’s presence was a gift. He was his family’s biggest fan and made it a point to attend every event on everyone’s calendar, but he did more than show up: Andy took the time to get to know his children and grandchildren as individuals, and he loved them unconditionally. 

Andy, with his friendliness, with his kind smile, and with his willingness to stop and simply listen, made people feel appreciated. Valued. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. 

Andy is survived by his wife of 57 years, Maureen Hemphill (nee Manuel); three children: Drew Hemphill (Carla), Deena Hemphill-Abramson (David), and Matthew Hemphill (Holly); nine grandchildren: Zach, Whitney, Mads, Lanney, Will, Tanner, Wyatt, Rhyan, and Lucy; his sister, Sue Wilson (Dick) of Louisville, KY; his brother-in-law, Kent Manuel (Bonnie) of Manhattan, KS; and his sister-in-law, Mona Culver (Jim) of Congress, AZ.  Andy was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Marjorie Hemphill; his infant sister, Bernadine; and his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Alice and Milton Manuel. 

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating to either the BackSnack Program, at www.handstoheartskc.org, or the Park Hill Education Foundation, at www.parkhillfoundation.org. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at Platte Woods United Methodist Church on Saturday, September 9th with visitation beginning at 1pm, funeral service at 2pm and private family graveside following at Terrace Park Cemetery.