A great lady who dedicated her life to peace died yesterday

Kris Cheatum was marching against war when we were in Vietnam in the 60s. She never stopped. Just a few days before her death Kris was standing on a street corner holding a sign asking for an end to the war in Afghanistan.

Kris was the founder of Peaceworks Kansas City. She helped organize a very successful art fair every September that raised money for Peaceworks.

Here is Kris and her husband Lynn (a VFP member) in Chicago at a march in October, 2007.



In August of 2005 Kris and Lynn were in Crawford, TX to help Cindy Sheehan protest across the road from Bush's ranch. Kris told me that when they heard about Cindy in Crawford they only asked who would load the car and when would they leave.

Here is a wonderful article about Kris and Lynn from 2006: Granny the Terrorist.

Kris worked as a social worker until she retired. She had two sons, John and Steve. John is an actor who is best known as the Geico caveman.

Last Thursday, Kris had a massive stroke. She had emergency surgery that night and was doing well until yesterday morning when she had another stroke. Her son said that at 6:00 last night "..She passed peacefully just as her purpose in life was for peace."

I loved Kris more than I can describe. I was grateful for her friendship and greatly admired her courage. Kris had a wonderful sense of humor, a dry wit and found pleasure in life every day. She was a role model for me and hundreds of others whose lives she touched. Her dear husband has advanced Alzheimers and she spent the last several years of her life carefully and lovingly taking care of Lynn. They still regularly attended peace community activities.

When I was young, my teachers taught me that I could do or be anything I wanted but I should make sure that I made a difference in the world and left it a better place. Kris was the perfect example of a human being who made a huge difference and left the world a better place. There is no doubt in my mind that she is finding her way around heaven today.

RIP Kris. Thank you for making a difference in my life.

in your life time Kris and sincere kudos for that.

She is definitely an angel.

And sincerest sympahties to you and her loved ones.

She was right there with us politically.

to a clearly beautiful human being.

Thank you so much for sharing this. I'm sorry for your loss.

Sadly I don't think I can be there.

Lynn is? Is he still with us?

They hadn't even told him Kris had a stroke.

I have a convention in Columbia Saturday. Don't think I can get out of it.

leaving us.

That is the natural progression, but I worry whether there are many young ones who will step up into their place.

The last few days there have been some very ugly tirades about how the older generation did nothing but ruin things for the young. I think we need to start introducing some of our elders to each other while they are still with us.

There are many Krises, they are all very special, and we need to know them.

Thank you, Proud. I know this leaves a giant hole, and she will be sorely missed.

what a great lady!!


..i wish i could have met her..

Generous in all of her understandings, Courageous and calm, forthright, fully aware, but always happy.

She helped everyone.

..................................

I agree, those like Kris and Lynn should be brought forward (if they will come), before they are "gone" and we "lose" their Light.

So many out there like her that folks like to trash as old and on SS depriving younger folks from jobs or money.

My MIL was like her and there are so many who still care who maybe can't get out of the nursing home but they still vote...and for Democrats or Change.

:applause: to them all. They shouldn't be discounted or forgotten for what they do......

These memorials are great, but we also need to know them now.

RIP

I wish I could have met her. May she find eternal bliss. :)

and example of caring and making one's life matter. So sorry for your loss and for those who knew her.

A change has got to come.

RIP and thanks to a great lady.

and for the loss of a great activist.

Thanks! K&R

I'm saddened to hear of her passing. It's a loss to all of us.

:grouphug:

we need more like her.

may you be free from suffering. Peace and comfort to your family and friends.