Katherine May Croom

Katherine May Croom, age 101, passed away June 20, 2016, at her home in Fort Smith, after a year long convalescence. Prior to that time she lived a very full and independent life, handling her own affairs.

Kathy was born August 28, 1914 to Aaron Barling Croom and Kate Mary Young in Fort Smith. She graduated from Fort Smith High School in 1932. Her first job was at the Kress 5-10-25 Cent Store on Garrison Avenue. Though she hated standing on her feet all day, she kept that job for two years. Then, she was lucky enough to get one of the few good jobs available to women during the depression, working for Bell Telephone, or as she always called it, “The Telephone Company", manually moving plugs to connect calls. Kathy loved her job; as she said, “I was in hog heaven!” After seven years, she was promoted to the business office, a job she thoroughly enjoyed until her retirement.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents; her special mentors, Uncle Gene and Aunt Hettie Young; her cousins, Zoe Ellen Young Stratton and Estelle Young Baker and her boyfriend in her later years, Ray Branum.

Surviving Katherine are her cousins: Fred Baker Jr. and his wife Kim of Fort Smith, Dr. Zoe Baker Morgan and her husband Dr. Harry Morgan of Hypoluxo, FL, Barbara Baker Wood and her husband Robert of Meeker, OK, Jeanette Baker Van Ert and her husband Jay of Austin, TX, Gene Stratton and wife Ginna of Bertram, Texas, Leslie Stratton of Memphis, TN and their respective families.

Caregivers and close friends: Rose Worthey, Laura Morgan LPN, Bridget Schmidt, Danyell Sanders, Brandi Cordell, Carolyn and Charlie Hubbard, Abigail Elise Wells, Carol Beatty, Natalie Turner, Sheila Harlow, and many other friends.

The Celebration of her Life will be held in the Roebuck Chapel of First Methodist Church, Fort Smith, on Saturday June 25, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. Services are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home.

Family will greet friends at Edwards Funeral Home Friday night from 5-7 P.M. Kathy asked that memorials be made to The Good Samaritan Clinic in Fort Smith.

To sign an online guestbook, visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com