Kathryn “Kathy” McCreight, 78, passed away Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at her home in Ellsworth, KS. She was born January 16, 1941 in Wichita, KS, the daughter of Allen Landrus and Margaret (Neff) Landrus. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Carolyn Landrus; and her daughter, Anne Wayne. She is survived by her husband John of Ellsworth, twin sons, John McCreight, Jr. of Southport, NC and Jeffrey McCreight of Surprise, AZ; grandchildren, Maria Wayne of Sterling, VA and Kevin McCreight of Berlin, Germany; and her sister, Marvelyn Burnette of Wichita, KS.

Kathy spent most of her childhood growing up in Wichita, but she lived in Salinas, CA where she graduated from Salinas High School in 1958. She learned to play the piano, organ, and cello. She was accepted to attend UCLA in the fall of 1958, but she decided that summer that she didn’t want to go to a large school and through her church, Salinas Presbyterian Church, and her Aunt Maxine Kraft, who had graduated from Sterling College in Sterling, KS, she decided to go to Sterling College. This was a Great Blessing in that Kathy and John met at Sterling! Summers between college years, Kathy worked for the Wichita Eagle/Beacon Newspaper in Wichita and during college she worked in the Sterling College Publicity Office. John and Kathy married on September 3, 1961 at Bethany United Presbyterian Church, Wichita. She graduated from Sterling College in May of 1962 with a BA degree in Elementary Education. John graduated at the same time with a BS degree in Chemistry. She taught 1st Grade at Baldwin, KS, 1962-1963. She was a piano and organ teacher over many years. She served as a church organist at many different places, especially at military chapels. She also served as a Presbyterian Deacon and Elder for a number of years. She was also clerk of session for several years while serving as Elder. She enjoyed playing hand bells. While in Ellsworth for a number of years, she directed the youth program “Kids for Christ”, which focused on learning scripture and singing. They put on several performances over the years. One of the best was “Jonah”! She accepted a three year assignment on the Mission Projects and Activities Committee of the Presbytery of Northern Kansas. She served about 10 years as Church Secretary at the First Presbyterian Church, Ellsworth. Kathy like John was active with the Ellsworth Senior Center where they both delivered meals together on each Monday to persons in Ellsworth and Kanopolis. Kathy enjoyed traveling and she went to many countries like Mexico, Canada, Russia, Poland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Luxemburg, Belgium, England, Scotland, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Israel, Egypt and Okinawa, Japan. Kathy’s hobbies, besides loving to travel, were travel photography, reading, sewing, needlework, arranging music, her elephant collection, and growing flowers.

Visitation: 3-8 p.m., Sunday, October 6, 2019 at Parsons Funeral Home, Ellsworth with family greeting friends 6-8 p.m.

Funeral service: 10:00 a.m., Monday, October 7, 2019 at First United Methodist Church, Ellsworth, with burial following at Ellsworth Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Kanopolis United Methodist Church, Sterling College, Ellsworth Senior Center, or Hospice of Salina, c/o, Parsons Funeral Home, PO Box 45, Ellsworth, KS 67439.