Kay Crawford

Kay Crawford, 89, of North Kansas City, Missouri, passed away peacefully on May 31, 2026.

Kay was born on September 26, 1936, and was proud to have grown up in Cedar Falls, Iowa. After graduating from high school, she followed her parents to Kansas City, where she attended business college and began working for AT&T. There she met the love of her life, Murphy Crawford. They married and raised two children, Kathleen (“Kathy”) and Tracy.

Kay devoted herself to her family as a stay-at-home mother and was deeply involved in her children’s schools. She generously gave her time in many ways, serving in the school library, as a room mother, and as PTA President.

Later in life, she was blessed with a granddaughter, Amanda, whom she loved dearly. They shared countless happy memories and adventures together. Kay had a lifelong love of reading and enjoyed spending time at libraries. She also loved garage sales and thrift stores, always searching for hidden treasures.

An animal lover through and through, Kay always had pets and cared deeply for animals. When she could no longer care for pets of her own, she made sure the neighborhood stray cats were fed and looked after. She loved people, enjoyed making connections with others, and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Francis and Evelyn Klein; her grandmother, Betty Wilkins; her brother, Phil Klein; her husband, Murphy Crawford; and, as she would have jokingly noted, her “secret crush,” Kris Kristofferson.

She is survived by her daughter, Kathleen Klimek, and son-in-law, Michael Klimek; her son, Tracy Crawford; her granddaughter, Amanda Klimek, and husband, Evan Johnson; and her great-granddaughter, Valerie Klimek Johnson.

A graveside service will be held on June 5, 2026, at White Chapel Cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri, beginning at 12:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Wayside Waifs or The Salvation Army.