Stephanie Jennings Branham Crabtree Obituary

 

STEPHANIE JENNINGS BRANHAM CRABTREE 

Stephanie Karen (Jennings) Branham Crabtree, 46, passed away on Sunday, February 2, 2025, in Nevada, Missouri after a tragic 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. 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 August, 1996 at Purdy, Missouri, and two children were born to that union, Kendal and Kynsey. He survives. Stephanie married Donald Crabtree in 2019 in Joplin, Missouri. He survives.

Stephanie is survived by a large family both on her father's side and her mother's side. Those immediate survivors include her mother, Karen Jennings, Neosho Missouri, her step-grandmother, Nancy Utter, Montana; her children, Kendal and wife Bryana Branham, Arkansas, Kynsey and husband Trent Brown, Arkansas; her siblings, Kimberly and husband Mike Ruede, Florida, and Candace and husband Cody McConnaughey, Neosho, and one brother Stephen Patrick Jennings, Joplin. Her grandchildren, Braxton, Brexxleigh, Jameson, Jensen, Kadynse, Kymber, Harper, and Hazel; four nephews, 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. Other survivors are her mother-in-law, AJ Irvin, Lamar, Christy Rodriguez, Nevada, step-daughter and step-son Ashley Starbuck and Tristan Crabtree, Nevada, and step-grandchildren, Aaliyah and Alexis Starbuck, and Logan Crabtree of Nevada. Stephanie is survived by a large family both on her father's side and her mother's side - many Uncles, Aunts, and Cousins who mourn her passing and will forever miss her. 

She was cremated and a Celebration of Life was held in July, 2025, where her ashes were buried at the Rocky Comfort Cemetery atop her father's grave. Stephanie's spirit and the love she shared will remain in our hearts forever.