STEPHANIE CRABTREE
Stephanie Karen (Jennings) Crabtree, 46, passed away on Sunday, February 2, 2025, in Nevada, Missouri after an automobile accident, leaving behind a legacy of love, kindness, and cherished memories.
Stephanie was born January 19, 1979, in Neosho, Missouri, to the late Stephen Jennings and Karen (Utter) Jennings. Her mother survives. Stephanie graduated in 1996 from Purdy High School. She was the office manager and helped run her father’s business, AAA Refrigeration & A/C, in Joplin for 14 years. She was a devoted worker to her father’s business and she inherited that work ethic from him. She was dedicated to caring for others, was an exceptional Registered Nurse, currently the Staff Educator at Cox Barton County Hospital, Lamar, and was nearly finished with her master’s degree in nursing administration.
She was a Christian who was devoted
to her family and always supported and nurtured them, she loved all animals, enjoyed
swimming and the great outdoors, traveled extensively, crafting, singing, and she
inherited her musical ability from her Grandpa Leroy Jennings.
Stephanie married Brandon Branham
in 1996 at Purdy, Missouri, and two children were born to this union, Kendal
and Kynsey. Stephanie married Don Crabtree in 2019 in Joplin, Missouri and he
survives of the home.
Additional survivors include her mother, Karen Jennings, Nevada Missouri, mother-in-law,
A.J. Ervin, Lamar; a brother-in-law, David Crabtree, Arizona, a sister-in-law,
Christie Rodriguez, Nevada; her children, Kendal and wife Bryana Branham, Arkansas,
Kynsey and husband Trent Brown, Arkansas, a stepdaughter, Ashley Starbuck, a
stepson, Tristan and wife Kyleann Crabtree, all of Nevada, Missouri. Her siblings,
Kimberly and husband Mike Ruede, Florida, and Candace and husband Cody
McConnaughey, Neosho, one brother Patrick Jennings, Joplin; grandchildren,
Braxton Evans, Brexxleigh Watkins, Jameson, Jensen, Kadynse, Kymber, Harper,
and Hazel Brown, Aaliyah and Alexis Starbuck, and Logan Crabtree and she was
excited to welcome Logan’s baby sister due in March; five nephews, Rhett
Rodriguez, Tyler Burton and wife Karyssa, USAF, Andrew Burton and wife Brianna,
USAF, and Noah and Caleb McConnaughey; one niece, Lydia McConnaughey; and one
great-niece Claira Burton, and two great-nephews, Creed Burton, and Maverick
Burton.
She has been taken for cremation
and a Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date. Stephanie will be
deeply missed by all who knew her, but her spirit and the love she shared will
remain in our hearts forever.
