UNIONVILLE, Mo. —
Kathryn Lea (Sayres) Crawford, 77, passed away peacefully at her home Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012.
Kay, as she was commonly known, was the adopted daughter, the only child of Joe B. and Mildred (Sherer) Sayres of Centerville. She was born on May 2, 1935. Her parents preceded her in death.
After graduating from Centerville High School in the Class of 1953, she attended Indian Hills Community College and would graduate from Drake University in Des Moines with a degree in elementary education and art. Like most youths from her generation, she had to work to earn money for her education. For several years, she taught in Iowa schools at Milton, Colfax and Des Moines. She also taught three years at Putnam County R-1 Schools in Unionville, Mo.
Early in Kay’s life, her Aunt Eddy organized a Girl Scout troop of local girls. Those girls stayed together for more than 12 years. They remain very close friends.
On June 6, 1967 in Centerville, she married Duane Crawford and quickly mastered the art of packing, moving, unpacking and how to endure the stress of worrying and waiting while her career United States Marine was serving our nation. A daughter, Sandra, was born the next year. The family moved many times and experienced long separations that were caused by military assignments. Following her husband’s retirement from the Marines in 1979, the family moved to Unionville, Mo. in hopes of beginning a new life, finding peace and continuing to serving the nation they loved.
With expert assistance from Kay’s father, they built one of the first homes at Lake Thunderhead. Primarily due to Kay’s organizational ability and hard work, the couple operated the marina for three years. Her friendly and honest personality won her many lifetime friends. Kay was a quiet, humble, soft-spoken and gentle lady. In addition to her success in business, she had an adoration for gardening, canning, baking and especially her beloved quilting.
Kay had an intense love for cats and dogs. She raised several litters of German shepherds that brought countless families happiness. For many years, she established a motherly bond with many of her daughter’s friends. She opened her home to them and never made anyone feel unwelcome. The Lady Midget basketball teams especially captured her heart. A big fan of girls’ basketball, she devoted innumerable hours each year to make Lady Midget seniors memorable keepsakes. Besides her countless friends, she maintained a special affection and rapport with her many Marine Corps brothers and sisters. She eagerly looked forward to the reunions with them, the last one being a memorable one in Gettysburg, Penn. Kay loved attending the Rathbun Country Music Theater through the summer. Christmas was her favorite time of the year and her decorating skills were the envy of everyone.
As an intensely faithful local citizen, she gave her heart and soul to the Putnam County community and asked for nothing in return. Because of her selflessness, Kay touched countless lives in the Marines and the Heartland. She unselfishly devoted countless hours to type, edit and critique her husband’s hundreds of articles for the Unionville Republican, Daily Iowegian, Midwest Country News and his three books. More than anyone, she was instrumental in doing the administrative work relating to the Vietnam Veterans Moving Memorial Wall, Veterans Memorial, the Flight 11 Memorial and other community projects. Besides being a patriotic member of the American Legion Auxiliary, she belonged to the First Christian Church of Unionville.
Kay is also preceded in death by brother-in-law Patrick Crawford, sister-in-law Betty (Crawford) Sietman and niece Debbie (Ackland) Sipple.
Kay is survived by her husband, Duane, beloved daughter Sandra and her knight in shining armor, Payne Pfeiffer, who acquired her artistic talent. She is also survived by a son, Dr. Steven Boggs, M.D., his wife Paula and two beautiful daughters, Carter and Cecily, of New York. A very special friend, Kathy Boggs, and her husband, Ike, are also deceased.
Visitation will be held Saturday, Aug. 4 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, Aug. 5 at 2 p.m. at Playle-Jones Family Funeral Home in Unionville, Mo. with Pastor Gene Weece conducting the service. Brenda Collins will sing, “The Old Rugged Cross” and “Lily of the Valley.” Pallbearers will be Danny Peto, Jerry Hartnell, Mike Crawford, Bob Gardner, Dan Weston, Mike Klingner and Chad Varner. Honorary pallbearers are her many United States Marine Corps brothers and sisters and the Rathbun Country Music Theater Family.
Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to Putnam County High School Art Room or Hospice of Northeast Missouri and may be entrusted with Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO 63565. Condolences may be entrusted to Playle-Jones Family.
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Kathryn ‘Kay’ Lea (Sayres) Crawford Submitted photo
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August 2, 2012
Kathryn ‘Kay’ Lea (Sayres) Crawford
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