Kathy Lynne Thompson

Kathy Lynne Thompson, 66, passed away May 30, 2024 at KU Medical Center in Kansas City. She was born October 6, 1957 in Coffeyville Memorial Hospital to Paul H. and Irene DeTar Crandell. Her dad was a member of the 1957 Pittsburg Gorillas National Champion Football Team. Her birth was announced over the loud speaker at the next football game when the players were introduced. 

When Kathy was a Junior Girl Scout and her mother was the leader, the troop earned a special badge with the help of her brother, Roger who is blind. The name of the badge was "Understanding the Handicapped." The girls made French knots on the badge to make the Braille letters "U TH." A newspaper article in the Coffeyville Journal was written, and also an article with pictures in "American Girl" Magazine. 

Kathy went to Garfield School, McKinley School, Roosevelt; where she played violin in the orchestra, and graduated from Field Kindley Memorial High School. She majored in business, and her good typing skills earned her a job as typesetter at the Coffeyville Journal where she worked several years.

 In 1976 she married Monte Owens; they had a son, Michael Ray, and later divorced. In 1984 she married A.J. Thompson; they had a son Arthur, and later divorced.

 While living in Parsons, she worked for the Parsons newspaper. After moving to Independence, she began working for United States Postal Service and was a mail carrier in Cherryvale for several years. Kathy took classes from K-State and became a Master Gardner. She loved growing thing things and sharing from her garden. She was adventureous and also took flying lessons from Cessna. 

She was a member of the Montgomery County Iris Club until it disbanded. She was a member of the Jane Dean Coffey Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Coffeyville; later in Parsons. She was also a member of a Bible Study Group for many years. 

When her son Arthur was a Cross Country Runner in Independence High School, after every meet Kathy would have an ice chest full of sandwiches and treats for all the Independence team. 

Kathy loved to play Skip Bo, and would get a game together whenever she had a chance. She was a very caring friend and spent much time caring for a close friend when he was dying from cancer. Kathy was passionate about helping people and her legacy continues through being a donor and helping others in need.  

She was preceded in death by her grandparents Frank and LoVeta DeTar; Harry Crandell and Pearl Crandell Battaglear; her dad, Paul Crandell and granddaughter Kelsey Thompson. 

She is survived by mother Irene Crandell, brothers Roger Crandell and Kenny (Lorie) Crandell; sister Janet (Peter) Casazza. Sons Mike (Sara) Owens, Arthur (Josie) Thompson, grandsons Ethan and Jesse Owens, Kobe and Ashton Thompson. 

Celebration of life services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday. June 4, 2024 at the First United Methodist Church in Coffeyville with Pastor Yves. A visitation prior to the service from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.  Services will be streamed though the church Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CoffeyvilleFirstUMC