Danny L. Kays, also known as Dan The Man with a Plan, died peacefully on April 5, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri at the age of 75. He was surrounded by his two daughters, and was also attended to in his transition by their mother, Katie.  Danny was visited by and showered with loving messages from his friends in his final days.

Danny was a hometown man and may possibly have earned the title of Informal Mayor of Raytown. Born and raised on Ash, and having attended Raytown High, he returned to Raytown to live with his parents, Roby and Jack Kays, and his sister, Deb, after his Army service in Vietnam. He later owned two United Supers grocery stores he ran alongside his father and his former wife, Katie. You may have rented a video there from his eldest daughter or had a check cashed by or bought some stamps from either of his girls.

Danny loved golf and was an early adopter of new technology. He sported a massive video camera on his shoulder and a car phone plugged into his lighter long before they were mainstream.

Danny also loved to fish throughout his life. In his later years, one of the things he looked forward to the most was fishing in Canada with a group of friends. In the final summer of his life, he made a point to teach his grandson, David, how to fish, which David relished.

If you worked for Danny, you may be familiar with his favorite phrase, “You got time to lean, you got time to clean!” He was a man who took the phrase, “The customer is always right” to extremes, one time giving a full refund to a man who returned clean steak bones, stating, “They didn’t taste good.” Some former employees refer to him as the best boss they ever had.

In addition to his pride in his military service, his legacy includes his many friendships. Like men in the trenches, Dan never left anyone behind: gathering, keeping, and maintaining friendships over his entire life–connecting folks to each other, planning get togethers, and always being there for any friend who needed him.

Danny is survived by his sister, Deborah Ann Kays Hall, and his two daughters, Lisa “Sunshine” Kays and Lori Kays, as well as two grandsons, David Kays Barth and Lucas Barth.

Not one for big goodbyes, Danny would more likely have gone out saying, “Be good, Sug” or “So long, gang.” Always one to get into trouble, he loved to remind others not to.

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