Obituary

Velta Evoria (Sears) Bales was born on March 16, 1924, to Mary Ellen (Scott) Sears and James Pledger Sears. She was one of several children in the Sears family. Her siblings included James Haskell Sears, Lovina Latain Sears, Jessie Allens Sears, and Caroll George Sears. Later, the family welcomed Lena Bell Sears, Vonda May Sears, and Georgia Lee Sears.

The Sears family lived on a farm in Bexar, Arkansas, where they raised cotton. From an early age, Velta worked alongside her brothers and sisters in the cotton fields. They also grew tobacco for their father’s personal use. When it came time to harvest the tobacco, the children helped prepare it by cleaning the leaves, removing any worms they found, and then baking the leaves in the oven to cure them.

Velta attended a one-room schoolhouse before later enrolling at Viola High School in Viola, Arkansas, where she played basketball on the school’s team.

In February 1943, Velta traveled by bus to be with her best friend Elwanda in Kansas City in search of new opportunities. They rented an apartment and began looking for work. During World War II, Velta was hired at Pratt & Whitney, where she met William Charles Bales. The couple married on October 18, 1944.

Together they had two children. Their oldest child, a son, David Lee Bales, was born on July 6, 1953. Their daughter, Cheryl Rae Bales, was born on August 18, 1962.

David married on October 6, 1973, and he and his wife welcomed a son, David Jonathan Bales, making him Velta’s first grandson.

Cheryl married on October 1, 1988. She and her husband had two sons: Robert William Stokes, born on February 12, 1991, and Jesse Ray Stokes, born on May 27, 1993.

Velta’s family continued to grow over the years. Her great-grandchildren include David Wyatt Bales, Dawson Jay Bales, Sadie Ann Bales, Gabby Dean, Emily Dean, and Maddison Mallory. She was also blessed with great-great-grandchildren: Walker Emmett Bales, Hayden Grace, Madisyn Ann, Ashtyn Kay, Blakley Dean, and Blair Dean.

Throughout her life, Velta remained proud of her Arkansas roots, her strong work ethic, and the loving family she helped build. From working the family farm as a young girl to contributing to the war effort during World War II and raising a family of her own, her life was marked by perseverance, dedication, and love for future generations.

A visitation will be held on Monday, July 6, 2026 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Langsford Funeral Home in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

A service will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Langsford Funeral Home in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, family suggest donations be made in Velta’s memory to Fellowship of Greenwood Church.