Leona “Lee” Frances Kruger, 89, of Grandview, MO, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 19, 2022, at Research Hospital in Kansas City.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 25, 2022, at Campbell-Lewis Chapel in Marshall with William W. Harlow officiating.  Burial will follow in Ridge Park Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. until time of the service on Friday at the funeral home.  Memorials are suggested to Disabled American Veterans and an online guestbook is available at www.campbell-lewis.com

Born July 9, 1933, in California, MO, she was the daughter of the late William Pearle Smith and Lelia McKissick Smith Bailey.  On February 6, 1951, she married Lawrence “Larry” Chester Kruger who preceded her in death on October 8, 2002.  Lee and Larry moved from Saline County in 1953 and made their home in the Kansas City area.  Lee was a very active person her entire life and worked as a manager at Sears for several years and then became a successful realtor.  She was a member of Blue Ridge Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school for many years.  Lee had many talents which included sewing, painting, cooking and gardening.  She enjoyed setting a beautiful table, had a sense of good fashion, and could make any plant bloom.  Lee was one who enjoyed helping others and was also sure to contribute to the charities she loved.  Every Memorial Day she made an all day journey to visit and place flowers for family members who had passed.  Though she had many talents and was always active, Lee’s main passion was always her family.  Getting together and having loved one’s around made her the happiest.

Lee is survived by one daughter, Charlotte; one son, Tom (Darlene); four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended family.

In addition to her parents and husband, Lee was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Diana Kay; one son, Don; one grandson, Alex; and two sisters, Mary Jane Miller and Maxine Crawford.