Kathryn Alma (Brooke) Pryer was born 28 June 1949 in Lebanon, Missouri to Joseph and Vivian (Denhart) Brooke.  At the age of three, her parents packed their family belongings and moved to Central California with hopes of finding work in the fruit and vegetable fields of the San Joaquin Valley.  The family settled in the town of Manteca where Kathy grew up and graduated from Manteca High School.

Soon after graduation, Kathy met Troy Cron and they were married 30 December 1967 in Carson City, Nevada.  A year later Kathy and Troy moved to Missouri. They lived in Springfield until settling on a farm outside Pleasant Hope.  Troy found a good job with the 3M Corporation and Kathy began a thirty-year career with Woods Super Market in Bolivar.  She worked as a checker and as a service desk attendant.  Their two children, Jarett in 1971 and Erik in 1972, were born while living on the farm.  In 1985 the family moved to their home on Charlene Drive in Bolivar.  Troy continued his commute to 3M in Springfield while Kathy worked at Woods until their retirement about 2006.  Troy was soon stricken with cancer and died in 2008.

Kathy’s pride and joy was her family . . .  especially her four grandsons; Isaac, Isaiah, Israel, and Ira.  When they were growing up, she was happiest during their weekly Friday visits.  Providing them with their favorite meals, playing games, watching movies and just having fun filled her heart with joy.  Perhaps the most enjoyment was provided by her swimming pool during those hot summer months.  Her commitment to “her boys” is evidenced by the extremely large number of pictures of them she used to fill her dozens of photo albums. 

In February 2012, Kathy met Wayne Pryer at a Southern Gospel music event in Springfield.  After a whirlwind romance they were married 14 June 2012 in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.  They shared many, many happy moments during their thirteen-year marriage.  Travels took them from Maine to California.  They attended dozens of basketball games . . . especially Bears/Lady Bears games.  She became a KC Chiefs and St. Louis Cardinals fan.  Wayne and Kathy especially enjoyed Southern Gospel music concerts.  Visits to “Silver Dollar City” each year always numbered in double figures.  They also attended many shows in Branson.

Closer to home, Kathy and Wayne enjoyed hundreds of bike rides down the Frisco Trail which passed near their home.  Ten-to-twenty-mile rides were common but rides of forty miles were not out of the question.  Kathy enjoyed working in her flower gardens.  Birthdays and family get-togethers during the holidays were a priority.  Watching old movies on “Turner Classics” as well as “Survivor” were much enjoyed.

Kathy had a ton of friends from her family and work relations.  She was a beautiful person.  Her smile could brighten the spirit of all with whom she came in contact.

Kathy’s Christian faith was of the utmost importance.  When just a young girl living in Manteca, California she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior.  She and Wayne were members of the Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Springfield and were regular attendees of Riverdale Baptist near Nixa for the last ten years.  Kathy told Wayne, not to worry about her current situation and that she was ready and looking forward to meeting Jesus in heaven.

Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Vivian Brooke; one brother, Joe Brooke; one sister, Vernona Highfill.  Surviving Kathy are two sons, Jarett, (Laura) and Erik, both of Bolivar; a brother, Wayne Brooke (Jessie) of Forsyth; two sisters, Loraine Winn of Lockeford, California and Connie Tate of Bolivar; four grandsons, Isaac, Isaiah (Courtney), Israel (Abigail), Ira; three great-grandsons, Everrett, Cade, and Ryker Cron; a stepson, Douglas Pryer of Wales, United Kingdom, and a stepdaughter, Sherry Lenza of Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  In addition, Kathy is survived by a very large number of friends and relatives.

Kathy was diagnosed with Multiple Melanoma in January 2024.  Her battle with cancer ended  

May 10, 2025, in the Kansas University Medical Center in Kansas City.  Celebration of Life service will be held at Pitts Chapel on Thursday, May 15, 2025, with Pastor Hosea Bilyeu officiating.  Visitation will be at 5:00 and services will follow at 6:00 pm.  Online condolences may be made at: www.greenlawnfuneralhome.com.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Pitts Chapel Bolivar, MO.