Kristy Kay “Kris” Gawith, 60, La Crosse, Kansas, passed away Thursday, July 7, 2022, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, Kansas.
Kris was born January 21, 1962, in Norton, Kansas, the daughter of William “Bill” and Charlotte (Harold) Nelson. She was a resident of La Crosse, Kansas, for three years moving there from Hays, Kansas. A 1980 graduate of Prairie Heights High School, Jennings, Kansas, she was a homemaker.
Kris had the “need for speed”. As a young girl she loved running fast and riding her bicycle very fast. So fast, her hair would fly out behind her. She wasn’t a slow driver either. She loved driving her truck fast.
On November 28, 1981, she married William Dean “Bill” Gawith, at Jennings, Kansas. Kris’ inherent love of her animals was the one condition of their marriage. If she couldn’t keep her animals, there was not going to be a marriage.
She loved raising registered Appaloosa horses. Kris’ first horse was Diamond Chris. Kris raised Diamond Echo, a foal of Diamond Chris, to rear on cue.
At a family dinner, when Kris and Bill announced Kris was expecting, the family assumed they meant Diamond Chris. The news didn’t seem to excite anyone, but after explaining it was Kris expecting, and not her horse expecting, it became quite the family dinner, which became an awesome memory!
Survivors include: her husband, Bill Gawith, La Crosse, Kansas; one son, Brad Gawith (Wendy), Rozel, Kansas; two grandsons, Thomas Gawith and Kegan Gawith; and her mother, Charlotte Nelson, Jennings, Kansas.
She was preceded in death by her father, and an infant brother, Ricky Nelson.
Visitation will be Sunday, July 10, 2022, from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at the Janousek Funeral Home, La Crosse, Kansas, with the family receiving friends from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.
Church visitation will be Monday, July 11, 2022, from 1:00 P.M. to 1:50 P.M. at Jennings United Methodist Church, Jennings, Kansas.
Funeral service will be Monday, July 11, 2022, at 2:00 P.M. at Jennings United Methodist Church, Jennings, Kansas, with Pastor Gordon Pettibone officiating. Interment will be in the Jennings Cemetery, Jennings, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers or plants, the family requests memorials to a pet charity of donor’s choice, or any charity of donor’s choice.
Condolences or remembrances may be left for the family at www.janousekfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements were by Janousek Funeral Home, 719 Pine Street, P O Box 550, La Crosse, Kansas 67548, 785/222-2517.