Kathaleen Kraft

Kathaleen P. Kraft “Kak”, 88, of Decatur, IL passed away surrounded by her loving family in her residence on Friday, May 10, 2019. Funeral services will include a visitation on Friday, May 17 from 9-11am at First Christian Church in Decatur, immediately followed by a Memorial service. A private burial service to follow. Memorials may be made to Stone Thrown Forward in honor of her grandson, Kyle Stone, for EKGs for high school athletes in Macon County, the Blue Mound Library or the Mt. Zion Library.Kathaleen was born on September 14, 1930 in Decatur, IL to Perle& Irene Crawford (Scaggs). She married James Canaday on June 25, 1947 in Morganfield, KY. She and Jim had 5 children. She later married Merle Kraft on August 12, 1978 in Mattoon, IL.Kathaleen worked as a Postmaster in Boody, IL, and enjoyed attending postal conventions with her good friend, Val Reiss. She was a member of Zion Chapel United Methodist Church. She has many great memories of volunteering for the DMH Hospice Program, attending card parties with Merle, reading, traveling, working on prayer quilts for Zion Chapel, and spending time with her many friends and family members. She loved making decorative Christmas stockings for her grandchildren & great-grandchildren. She always had a smile on her face, and a kind word to share. She was a fantastic mother and the best Gram ever.She is survived by her daughters Carol (special friend Leonard Thomas) Moomey of Blue Mound, IL, Rita (Dale) Colee of Forsyth, IL; daughter-in-law Marilyn Canaday of Decatur; son-in-law Keith (Beverly) Ashby of Palm Harbor, FL; bonus brother John Noland, bonus sons Darrell (Theresa) Kraft of Mt. Zion, IL, Edward (Marcia) Kraft of Des Moines, IA; sisters-in-law Ruth Tooley, Wilma (Bill) Stuart, Monica (Larry) Talbott, Sally (Steve) Dennee, Charlotte Kraft; and brothers-in-law Ralph Lockwood and Wayne Kraft. She was blessed with 20 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-grandchild; many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins, special cousin, Crystal Trueblood and her family, and bonus family Theresa (Jon) Medler, Shelly (Vince) Craycroft, Angela Wehrle, and Tom (Marci) Goodwin.She was preceded in death by her husband, James Canaday, her husband, Merle Kraft, parents, brother Charles Crawford, brothers-in-law Robert Canaday, Leroy Rohdemann, Don Tooley, Dean Kraft, Jack Kraft; sisters-in-law Jean Canaday, Phyllis Lockwood, Janelle Kraft, Lavonne Kraft, and Virginia Kraft, son Richard Canaday, daughters Cathy Ashby, Barbara Crowder, bonus daughter Diane Kraft, sons-in-law Gib Moomey and Larry Crowder, and grandson Kyle Stone.Kathaleen’s family would like to thank the wonderful staff and community at Primrose Retirement Center, Dr. Dan Smith, Dr. Ben Esparaz & HSHS Pallative Care for the love and support they have given them during this time.