Kathleen Crabaugh

Kathleen Crabaugh passed away peacefully in the early hours of the morning on Saturday, April 18th at Shawnee Mission Medical Center, her daughter holding her hand. Her family and best friends ensured that she was never fighting alone during her nearly 3 week hospital stay. She was 60 years old. Her unwavering strength and love will never be forgotten. Kathy was born on November 13th, 1965 at Bethany Medical Center and immediately bundled in the loving arms of her mother, Marilyn. She grew up in the Wyandotte area with her mother, father, and older sister - enjoying both the storybook company of a few farm animals and the bustle of city living when they relocated to Shawnee & Overland Park. For almost 20 years, Kathy never went anywhere without her little dog Bandit, who kept her company through so many milestones, from graduation, to moving, to marriage. When she was 7 years old, she worked hard (with her mom’s help) to sell sunflower & garden seeds around town until she was able to buy her very own bicycle. A natural next step, she couldn’t wait to get her driver’s license. Her mom purchased her first car - a black Camaro. The first day she tried to drive it to school, she barely pulled out of the driveway and drove right into a snowy ditch - a lesson that made her a very safe driver afterwards. She graduated from Shawnee Mission West High School in 1984. She was a spectacular, straight-A student, but that didn’t stop her from going home during lunch every day to watch All My Children. The principal decided that in order to walk across the graduation stage, she had to drive herself to & from Columbia, MO to take a special test (and learn a lesson). She got back just in time for graduation, and she was the only girl that carried a bouquet of red roses across the stage with her, given to her by her mom. Her youth was full of adventure and whimsy, traveling twice to Hawaii on trips that she still fondly reminisced about later in life. Kathy & her mother got the worst sunburns from suntanning on top of the hotel, found relief in the aloe vera plant, shopped til they dropped, and flew home to 6in of snow in Kansas City while they were in shorts and halter tops. Then she went back to do it all again with her girlfriends. She met the love of her life, Mitchell Crabaugh, in 1980. Together they shared many great adventures, including getting married & having their daughter Karly Chey in 1995, who became their entire world as soon as she entered it. They were both loving, devoted parents to her and cultivated a warm & welcoming home. Kathy & Mitch remained close throughout their lives, always there for each other and their family & friends. Kathy was a hard worker her entire life. She got her first job selling magazines over the phone, where she made top salesperson in 2 years. She had all sorts of interesting jobs after that, from seminar planner (which provided more travel opportunities), to server at Hayward’s BBQ, to a construction site signholder, to a school custodian, and more. She was no stranger to the odd job as well, always willing to help out. Eventually those odd jobs evolved into her own cleaning business - Kathy’s Complete Cleaning Service - which grew mostly by word-of-mouth praise for her work. Some of her long-term clients even turned into lifelong friends, like dearly missed Pat Bantz. Known for her compassionate heart, Kathy was one of the greatest friends you could have - generous, reliable, loyal, and always ready to lend an ear for your troubles, a shoulder for you to lean on or a couch for you to crash on, and a good laugh to lift your spirits. Her daughter Karly knew this love well, as Kathy was her best friend too. They gratefully enjoyed a lot of time together and supported each other until the end. Their favorite things to do were watching movies & TV shows (they both loved Frasier), listening to music, talking about everything, crafting, shopping & antiquing, and more. Kathy’s other pride & joy was Soda-Pop - Mitch’s little dog. She became Kathy’s constant companion just as she was Mitch’s before his passing. Kathy, Karly, & Soda-Pop spent many Saturday nights the last few years at her mother-in-law Phyllis Sell’s house for movie nights, and Sunday mornings visiting her mother Marilyn Crooks for her warm hugs & relaxing country weather. Many of Kathy’s friends & family will remember joining her on a mucking trip or two, with a carload of cool trash turned treasure. Most of us probably have something special in our house that she found for us. She was an avid antiquer with an eye for interesting items - even having her own booth at Marilyn & Jewell’s antique store for a bit. You might also picture Kathy joyfully singing along to rock ‘n roll on the stereo; working hard with a bandana around her head on a garden, garage sale, or cleaning job; or laughing & smiling surrounded by good company. Kathy is preceded in death by her late husband Mitchell Crabaugh, her grandparents, and friends also gone too soon. Her loving daughter Karly Crabaugh will miss her until the end of time, take care of little Soda-Pop, and enjoy her vast collections of cool stuff imbued with Kathy’s starlight & memory. She also leaves behind her mother Marilyn Crooks & step-father Jewell Crooks; many step-siblings; and many more dear friends & family with fond memories to keep their hearts as warm as hers. We will all miss her dearly. Join us at Maple Hill Funeral Home on Monday, May 18, 2026, for a visitation at 1:00 PM, and a celebration of Kathy’s life beginning at 2:00 PM. Feel free to prepare any special stories or moments to share during the service. Instead of flowers, please donate to Great Plains SPCA or your favorite local animal charity, for Kathy & all the pets she adored throughout her life.

Tributes

Kathleen Crabaugh

November 13, 1965 - April 18, 2026