Excelsior Springs resident Anthony Wayne ‘Tony’ Atkins, a beloved basketball coach, took his last breath suddenly on July 19, 2025, at the University of Kansas Medical Center.
So far, the precise details surrounding Tony Atkins’ unexpected passing remain unknown.
The beloved assistant varsity basketball coach of Excelsior Springs High School, Tony Atkins, is survived by his partner, Lori Atkins; his two children, Finley Margaret Marie Atkins and Daxton Wayne Atkins; and his extended family.
So far, it has not been ascertained whether Tony Atkins and Lori were married.
While the exact timeline of Tony and Lori’s relationship is unclear, it’s evident they’ve been together for more than a decade, as Tony possesses a photo of them dating back to 2014.
Their daughter Finley was born in 2018. Whereas, after two years, his son Daxton was born on June 19, 2020. Atkins was a proud father of two.
Hailing from Rosendale, Missouri, Lori Atkins is a retired art teacher. She previously worked at Buchanan County R-IV School District.
She has been working at Horace Mann Laboratory School since August 2018.
After Tony Atkins’s sudden demise, Lori hasn’t broken her silence publicly. However, instead of speaking out, she quietly updated her Facebook cover and profile picture to one featuring him, which is a silent tribute and speaks volumes about her silent grief.
Tony Atkins was an assistant girls’ varsity basketball coach at Excelsior Springs High School.
Likewise, he was also a Project Lead The Way (PLTW) teacher at a middle school within the Excelsior Springs School District.
His position involved teaching PLTW courses, which are part of a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) curriculum designed to engage students in hands-on, real-world problem-solving activities to build skills in engineering, technology, or biomedical science.
Reportedly, a Celebration of Life is scheduled to take place on Monday, July 28, 2025, between 3 and 5 p.m. at Hidden Valley Funeral Home, located at 925 East Route 92 in Kearney, Missouri.
Meanwhile, during this difficult time, we pray for the strength of Tony Atkins’ partner, kids, friends, colleagues, and extended family.
Rest In Heavenly Peace, Tony Atkins!
