Katherine H. Crumley, 102, of Centralia, formerly of Rochester, New York, passed away Thursday, December 29, 2022, at the University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics in Columbia.
Born more than a century ago in the tiny town of Dunlap, TN, on March 1, 1920, to Henry and Mae (Austin) Hixson. On March 10, 1943, Katherine married Harold S. Crumley, and moved with him to many places during his Navy career in World War II, then numerous moves afterward, including Elizabethton TN, Raleigh, NC, San Antonio, TX, Chattanooga, TN, Las Vegas, NV, and Rochester, NY, before moving to Centralia to be near her daughter in August 2022. Harold preceded her in death in January of 1993.
Katherine is survived by a daughter, Loraine Sukalski of Centralia, a son, Carl H. Crumley of Perry, FL; granddaughters, Katherine “Katie” Lockwood and husband Jason of Centralia, and Elizabeth “Liz” Kinast and husband Matt of Ithaca, NY; great-grandchildren, Joseph, Nicholas, and Shaelyn Lockwood, Maura and Sadie Kinast. Along with her husband Harold, Katherine was preceded in death by her parents, a son, Harold S. Crumley, Jr., and siblings Cecil Hixson, Loley Hixson, and Maybelline Surman.
Katherine worked many years as a church secretary at various churches. Katherine was always a server at her church; beginning at a young age, she would always help in any way she could. She really liked music, but especially enjoyed playing the piano and organ.
Katherine enjoyed reading, birdwatching, and riding in the car with her son, Carl, enjoying the beauty of upstate New York, which inspired a love of photography later in life. Being trained by her son, she became quite skilled, and many of her photographs of the area are on display at Linden Knoll Apartments where she resided.
A graveside service was peacefully held on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022. Memorial donations are suggested to the Asbury First United Methodist Church in Rochester, NY, where Katherine was a member, and may be sent in care of Fenton-Kendrick Funeral Home, 104 S. Collier, Centralia, MO, 65240.
