MARY KRISTINE CHEATUM

Mary Kristine Cheatum died peacefully at Research Medical Center on June 6. Kris was born May 1, 1937, in El Dorado, Kan., to Ethyl and W.C. Lange. "Kris" attended El Dorado Public Schools, graduating in 1955, and graduated cum laude from Southwestern College in 1959 with a major in sociology. Kris was a case manager at the Kansas Department of Social Rehabilitation Services for 36 years, where she worked in the Department of Children and Family Services, specializing in welfare and social work. Her sons recall accompanying her on the long drive to the Osawatomie State Hospital, where she met with some of her most difficult clients. Remarkably, Kris maintained her social work license until the day she died. Kris married Raymond Lehr in 1961; they had two sons, John and Steven. Kris and Raymond divorced in 1987, but remained friends, proud parents and grandparents. In 1989, Kris married Lynn Cheatum, whom she met at a Nuclear Freeze group meeting. Kris, with her husband Lynn, had a remarkable career as an activist and advocate for a wide range of progressive issues, from the Cesar Chavez grape boycott to ending the war in Afghanistan. Most recently, she added the cause of Alzheimer's to her long list of causes, as the disease struck her husband, Lynn, for whom she assumed all care. Over her 50-year career as a human rights and social justice activist, Kris campaigned, published numerous letters in the KC Star, protested, lobbied, volunteered and marched (including carrying her newborn son Steven at a civil rights rally in the 60s). Kris was arrested five times for anti- nuclear civil disobedience at the Mercury and Los Alamos nuclear sites. Her sons often bragged she had an FBI file an inch thick. Kris was a member of PeaceWorks, where she served as a board member, secretary, UNplaza Art Fair coordinator, and was the editor of the newsletter when she died. Kris received numerous awards for her work including The Peace Action Lifetime Achievement Award, The 2009 Prairie Star District Social Justice award, The 2009 Social Responsibility Award, The Charles E. Bebb Peace Merit Award, The KC Interfaith Peace Alliance Award and others. She is survived by her husband, Lynn; sons John of Los Angeles and Steve of Las Vegas; her daughters-in-law Jennifer Lehr of Los Angeles and Grace Prasad of San Francisco; her grandchildren Jules and Hudson Lehr of Los Angeles; her stepson Max Cheatum; her stepdaughter Gayle Shurig of Orlando; her stepson-in-law Mike Shurig of Orlando, and step-grandchildren Allison of Orlando, Zachary, Logan and Keagan. She will be remembered by her family and friends as a tireless, joyful, hilarious, energetic woman with an indomitable spirit who added far more to this world than she took. A true humanist, Kris Cheatum focused on helping others, tolerance and, above all, peace. Memorial services will be held at All Souls Unitarian Church, 4501 Walnut, Kansas City, at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 12. Arrangements by Marts Memorial Funeral Home. The family suggests donations to All Souls Unitarian and PeaceWorks, www.peaceworkskc.org or 4509 Walnut, Kansas City, MO 64111.