Hervia Roberts

Hervia Lee Roberts, Sr, 72, passed away on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at Research Medical Center, in Kansas City, Missouri. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri on December 3, 1952, to Theodore and Emily (Kelly) Roberts. He would often tell the story of his early childhood near-death, out-of-body experience from an extreme case of lead poisoning, after eating chips of lead wall paint from the bedroom floor of his childhood home. By the grace of God he survived, made a full recovery, and shortly thereafter went on to have his own paper route as a young boy. Hervia had a love and fascination for cars and from an early age enjoyed traveling and being out on the open road. As a teenager he worked as a mechanic with his father and went on long road trips with his teenage friends.  From the time of his paper route onward he continued to work, earn an income, and eventually he moved into his own apartment at the age of sixteen. He attended Central High School and Paseo Academy before graduating from Southeast High School in Kansas City, Missouri. After high school Hervia worked as a behavioral health tech for Western Missouri Mental Health where he cared for at-risk youth and became affectionately known as Uncle Herv. Later he attended trade school and earned his license as a certified mechanic. In 1974 he married Ruby Lee Bozeman, and two children were born to their union. They were married until her sudden passing in 1985. In addition to his wife, his father, mother, and three of his siblings, including his older brothers Arthur Roberts and Valentine Roberts, as well as his older sister Emily (Roberts) Bell, all preceded him in death. In his later years he worked as a maintenance tech for the Salvation Army, where he served the homeless and later for the Parkhill School District where he worked until his passing. He leaves to cherish in his memory his companion, Barbara Smith of Kansas City, Missouri; Brothers, Theodore Roberts, Jr. and Isaac Roberts (Kim) of Kansas City, Missouri; Sister, Ruthie (Roberts) Johnson of Crosby, Texas; Daughter, Victoria (Roberts) Posey of Independence, Missouri; Son, Hervia Roberts, Jr. (Anesha); Four Grandsons: DaQuan Darnell-Roberts, DaShawn Jones, Charles Posey, Isaiah Posey; and One Great-Granddaughter, little Ruby Roberts all of Kansas City, Missouri.