Kathryn Lila (Steele) Draper of rural Adair County, Missouri passed into Glory Monday, July 26, 2021. She is a child of the King, was wife to Darrell for 62 years, mother of Darren (Gigi) Draper and Kerri (Robert) Price, grandmother to Dax Draper and Macy Draper, Karise (Brandon) Rhea, Abriana (Daniel) Walsh, and Grant (Anna) Price, great-grandmother to Ian Knox Rhea, Abram Daniel Walsh, Elizabeth Susannah Rhea, Forrest Hudson Price, and Baby Rhea.
She was the most loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. And she showed the love of Christ to every person with whom she came in contact.
Kathryn was born to Virgil and Helen Steele in Schuyler County, MO in 1942. She was the oldest of siblings Nancy Steele (deceased), Paul Steele (deceased), Ruth (Bob) Valentine, Russell (Tonya) Steele, and Philip (Debbie) Steele. She also leaves behind sister-in-law Connie (Jim) Maxey and brother-in-law Veldon (Candy) Draper, as well as loved nieces, nephews, & cousins.
Kathryn loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and by her husband Darrell’s side served the Church for 48 years. She was a member of the New Hope Evangelical Church in Kirksville. Her church family was an important part of her life and each person there was very special to her. Their faithful prayer for her supported her through many trials.
After earning her degree from Northeast Missouri State University (Truman), Kathryn served her community by administrating and educating in Christian, private, and public schools. She and Darrell also provided a residential and foster home for many children.
Kathryn fought a painful and debilitating battle with NMO (Neuromyelitis Optica)/Devics Syndrome for 23 years. She was a courageous, determined woman who loved life and did not feel sorry for herself, but said there were so many others worse off than she. She will be greatly missed, but with the hope of seeing her again soon. “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” I Thes. 4:13-14
The family would like to express their sincerest gratitude to the employees at Samaritan Hospital in Macon, MO for their outstanding and compassionate care for Kathryn and her family.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 31, 2021 at the Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home in Kirksville, MO. Visitation will be held 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, July 30, 2021 at the funeral home. Burial will be at Park View Memorial Gardens, Kirksville, MO.
Memorials are suggested to: The Guthy-Jackson Research Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 15185, Beverly Hills, California 90210. <https://guthyjacksonfoundation.org/donate/>
Memorials may also be mailed to or left at Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer Funeral Home, 2100 E Shepherd Ave, Kirksville, MO 63501