Kathleen Widick

Kathleen Mckee Widick passed away on February 22, 2014 after a prolonged illness. Her husband, Charlie Crawford, and her four children, Ann Giganti, Kristin Smallwood, Mark Widick, Michael Widick, and ten grandchildren survive her. She was born on February 5, 1933 to Dr. and Mrs. D.B. McKee, a physician/nurse team who started practice in McCune, Kansas and finished in Pittsburg, Kansas. Kathi assisted her parents in various procedures. Her father was a colorful character boxing his way through medical school, serving as sheriff and rancher. He was plucked from the Gulf, off Pensacola, when his biplane caught on fire in WW 1. Her father bought her a wild mustang, which tried all sorts of ruses to get rid of her- scraping her off on tree branches and rolling over in ponds. Still, she hitched him to a buggy and has commemorated him in her verse. She had dreams of becoming a physician, but times were not conducive to women becoming physicians. She majored in English and had studies in physical therapy at Kansas University. Kathi was a member of Chi Omega sorority and kept up with her Chi Omega sisters throughout her life. After graduation, she briefly wrote for Hallmark and continued to write beautiful poetry for the remainder of her life. She married and raised four children with husband, Fritz Widick, in Cocoa Beach, Florida. The family enjoyed the heyday of the space program from 1957 through the 1990’s. She instilled a love of nature in her children. Through Audubon she rescued and rehabilitated wildlife and championed the environment. A master gardener, she achieved serenity with her Japanese garden and teahouse. She worked in real estate several years, but eventually returned to school earning her masters in social work. Her degree was put to good use working in family health services, BCC lab school and Brevard Hospice. Through her children she saved more lives than she could have on her own by giving them a love of the healing arts and a love for people. Her children became a nurse practitioner and 3 medical doctors. Later in life she married former college sweetheart, Charlie Crawford, also a KU graduate. Interestingly, Kathi was raised in Crawford County, named after her husband’s great grandfather, Samuel J Crawford, elected governor of Kansas in 1864. Kathy also wrote of Crawford Bridge in her poetry. Charlie stood by Kathi and cared for her in the best fashion possible. We just wish they could have had more ”good years” together. We cannot thank Kathi’s caregiver, Georgia Moxam, enough. Without her, we could not have kept Kathi in her own home. A private funeral service will be held. Donations, in her honor, may be sent to Audubon or The Nature Conservancy