Robert Nelson Spencer Deyong

Robert N. S. DeYong, 82, son of Lt. Colonel Louis W. DeYong and Kathleen Spencer DeYong, passed away at St. Josephs Hospital on September 20, 2020. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Amy E. DeYong. Bob was born in Kansas City, Missouri and was a life-long Kansas City resident. Bob went to Pembroke Country Day School and graduated with the great athletes of the class of 1956, though more of sportswriter himself. He graduated with a degree in Education from the University of Kansas in 1960. Bob had a curmudgeonly wit, a gifted memory and he loved literature and history, always quick with a poetic quote or some wisdom from the past. Bob devoted his life to the education of children with special needs, mostly in the Kansas City Missouri public schools. During his tenure of over 40 years; he provided special education services to many students. His first classroom assignment was at Humbolt Alternative School. He later taught at Southwest High School, Nowlin Middle School, Cook Elementary, and Border Star grade school. Bobs lifetime soulmate was his sister Amy, with whom he lived for most of his life until her death in 2015. Their careers as teachers overlapped frequently. Bobs focus was the education of emotionally disturbed, socially maladjusted and behavior disordered children, with whom Amy believed Bob "had much in common". Near the end of their teaching careers, Amy followed Bob to the Kansas City School District, teaching severe learning-disabled children at the Kansas City Middle School of the Arts, after which the two of them enjoyed a well-earned retirement. The revered founding sister of the Avila University School of Education once told Amy and Bob that she thought of them as missionaries. While not sure it described Bob, he heartily concurred it described Amy. They spent 80 summers together at their family cottage "Ebbtide" in Epworth Heights, Ludington, Michigan. Having grown up in a home where their grandfather, The Rt. Rev. Robert Nelson Spencer, frequently quoted John Donne, Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral, London, "into a grave no life can ever go" Bob will be cremated with no memorial service. Anyone wishing to make a gift of appreciation in honor of Bob might consider contributing to the Avila University School of Education in honor of Ms. Beverly C. Allen, Bob and Amys mutual boss and a great advocate for children.