Kelly "Ke-Ke" Cruea

CRUEA, Kelly Sue “Ke-Ke”, age 49 of Dayton, passed away Monday, January 2, 2023.  Ke-Ke was born May 21, 1973 in Dayton, Ohio, to Jake and Mary (Knox) Cruea. 

She was born with Down Syndrome but she never let it slow her down.  Ke-Ke enjoyed all life had to offer and brought so much joy to so many throughout her lifetime.  She grew up in Hillsboro, OH and spent countless hours riding her 4-wheeler on her parent’s motorcycle track.   Later, she moved to Dayton where she lived with her parents.  Ke-Ke loved Wal-Mart, Frisch’s Big Boy, clipping coupons, and all of the dogs she affectionately referred to as “wee-wees.”   

Preceded in death by her father, Jake, sister, Sally “Bubba” Knox and brother-in-law, Clyde “Da-Da” Knox and numerous aunts, uncles and friends, Ke-Ke leaves behind her mother, Mary Cruea; sister, Cathy (Mark) Wahlie; 2 brothers, Chuck (Sandy) Cruea and Gary Cruea, along with many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends that loved her dearly. 

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm, Friday, January 6 at the Vandalia Church of the Nazarene, 620 Stonequarry Rd., Dayton, OH 45414 with Pastor Mark Batton officiating.  Interment will follow at Dayton Memorial Park Cemetery.  The family will receive friends at the church on Friday morning from 11:00 am until time of service.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to VANDALIA-BUTLER FOUNDATION - Fund 9873, c/o The Dayton Foundation, 1401 S. Main St., Suite 100, Dayton, OH 45409. Make checks payable to The Dayton Foundation and note “VANDALIA-BUTLER FOUNDATION Fund 9873” in the memo.  This fund was established in memory of Ke-Ke’s sister, “Silly Sally” (Clyde) Knox and Sarah and Kayla Anderson for the continuation of the Passport to Safety Program for the Vandalia-Butler City School District.   

Arrangements entrusted to Morton & Whetstone Funeral Home, Vandalia.

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