Mitchell Gordon Crabaugh

Mitch Crabaugh lost his incredibly hard fought battle with cancer on Friday, August 12, 2022 at the University of Kansas Medical Center. His family and friends were by his side through it all. It wasn’t his first rodeo with cancer; he had sarcoma “right in his road” in 2016-2017. After all the rounds of radiation and chemotherapy, the tumor was small enough to be removed. Before the surgery, he asked Dr. Rosenthal: “will I be able to play guitar?” Dr. Rosenthal smiled and said “yes, I don’t see why not.” Mitch replied “good, because I couldn’t before!” He never missed an opportunity to crack a joke. Making the Kansas City Star news, Mitchell Gordon Crabaugh was born to Marvin & Phyllis Crabaugh; his mother and his Aunt Jean gave birth to Mitch and his cousin Kerry in the same hospital room on the same day on April 10, 1962. He always knew how to make an impression. In the Turner area, he grew up as the middle child with two brothers - Dean and Keith. He graduated from Turner High School in 1980. He met his soulmate Kathy Owens, whom he had a plethora of adventures with until finally marrying and having their daughter Karly Chey in 1995. She got his ears, eyes, impeccable taste, and sense of humor. Mitch radiated warmth and love like a supergiant star. Simply being in his orbit made you kinder, his light illuminated everyone; he never met a stranger. He could have a conversation with anyone about anything. A long conversation. Very long. He knew a lot of stuff, owed to his avid reading and learning anywhere he went. Plenty of friends have had to turn around and find Mitch at various museums, zoos, and tourist attractions because he would read every single informative blurb, sign, or plaque. After 23 years as a night custodian at Shawnee Mission School District, he had more time for his favorite hobbies. When he wasn’t spending his free time scrapping with his friend Mark, he was riding his Harley-Davidson - his second pride & joy. His brother-in-law Steve was fortunate to accompany him on his last ride. Mitch loved mucking, antiquing, scrapping, and tinkering (earning the name “Tink-Tink'' from friend Trogdon). Many will remember him with a drill or a pair of wire-cutters in his hand, donning a headlight. He was always working on things in his backyard (as best friend Jeff knows - still waiting for his riding lawn mower to be finished), helping family and friends with projects, and doing odd-jobs. He wasn’t afraid to work hard, evidenced by how well he helped maintain the grounds at the farm with his good friend Bill Smith. Mitch was also an ardent collector of many things. Many many things. He loved collecting Zippo lighters, Hot Wheels, flashlights, X-Box controllers, bandanas, reading glasses, hats, lawn mowers, marbles, stickers, anything with skulls on it, tools, toys, DVDs, comic books, sports cards, flags, gas cans; he loved it all. He was devoted to his daughter Karly, as she was to him. They shared so many interests and activities; they loved listening to music, building model rockets, reading, playing video games together, and more. Mitch also loved watching movies with Karly. The last movie he saw at the theater was Elvis (2022) on opening night. He sang every word. Mitch is preceded in death by his brother, Keith Crabaugh; step-father Leon Sell; and his grandparents. He leaves behind his loving family and friends, with fond memories and hearts as big as his. Left to clean out and admire all of his cool shit in his double-car garage is his daughter Karly Crabaugh; and wife, Kathy Crabaugh. He hopes his father, Marvin Crabaugh; mother, Phyllis Sell; and brother, Dean Crabaugh know every project he helped with took so long because he cared and he wanted to do it the right way the first time (such a perfectionist). He leaves aunts Jean Hershey and Kay Crabaugh, and niece Jessica Crabaugh. He will miss taking Karly to see his in-laws, Marilyn and Jewell Crooks, at their horse farm. Left with his attitude, reliability, and many memories of adventures in the car is his little dog and constant companion Soda-Pop. He also leaves many cousins, and so many friends, who he was always willing to help (sorry if he fell asleep on the couch though, and also for the snoring). He will be profoundly loved and missed, his white-hot starlight still shining upon us all. Join us at Maple Hill Funeral Home on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, for a visitation at 4:00 PM, and a celebration of Mitch’s life beginning at 5:00 PM. Don’t worry if you’re a little late, Mitch was rarely on time for anything. Instead of flowers, please donate to Pastor Gary’s [Central United Methodist Church], where Mitch and Soda-Pop spent a lot of Sunday mornings.

Tributes

Mitchell Gordon Crabaugh

April 10, 1962 - August 12, 2022