_edited.jpg)
Our beautiful mother, Kristeen Veronica Gray (Edman) known to those around her as “Krissy,” and many other personal terms of endearment, passed away on February 18, 2025.
Her story begins on March 14, 1966 when she was born in Chicago, Illinois. Growing up through significant abuse and trauma, she found closeness with her brother Keith, and her sister Kimmy. As an adult, she rekindled a closeness with her sister Kathy. Kathy’s untimely and sudden passing put Krissy into deep mourning.
On December 3, 1984 Krissy gave birth to her first beautiful daughter, Madeline. She lovingly gave her first born into foster care at six months when she wasn’t able to meet her needs. The adoption was final when Madeline was one year. Contact was lost completely until 2009, 24 years later. The reunion was like out of a fairytale - her missing piece was found.
She met her first husband, Allen, and through their love they had Krissy’s second daughter; Sondra was born April 1, 1987. The caboose to the trio was born April 8, 1990, Clarissa. After the birth of her daughters, Krissy escaped what had become an unhealthy marriage with the help of two kind and self-less women who played a vital role in Krissy and her daughters’ lives.
Krissy met the absolute love of her life in June 1992, while she was working at the local library in Mondovi, Wisconsin. Edwin and Krissy were married quickly, within five months in a lovely evening church wedding, surrounded by many, many friends. They spent many years together full of love but their love was complicated by addiction and health issues lurking around every corner. Krissy was able to beat her battle with alcohol addiction, but suffered from a host of other internal demons that continued to grip a hold of her until her death.
Relationships were complicated by mental health and so she spent the last 12 years being estranged from her daughters, during while her health took a continued toll and her marriage crumbled.
In 2023, Krissy was able to find safety, love and peace at Vitacare living in Menomonie, WI. The first year she flourished and thrived, making many close friends and even found an ever-loving companion, Jim. After Jim’s passing, the light began to fade from her, and she struggled for the last year of her life, seeking purpose, and understanding from God, until she ultimately passed from a broken heart. Facility staff say she was the heart and soul of their little community.
Krissy was a hippie, a flower child from the 60s. She smoked Kool cigarettes and drank Pepsi like it was a life source. Her whistle was ear-piercing but it always let us know when to come home. Her laugh was infectious and it brought continued laughter until there was crying to those around her. She loved rock ‘n’ roll music, the Cubs, and the Bears. To pass her days, she would bake creative treats and cakes, watch anything from old scary movies to Looney Tunes and Scooby Doo. She liked to play cards (Canasta will forever be a fond memory) and board games, do crafts and had a real passion for coloring.
Even estranged from her daughters, the love she felt for them, and they for her was deep and unmatched. Her last dying wish was that her daughters find loving healthy relationships in their lives and that they and their children do some good in the world.
“I figured that God put me on earth to have my three daughters and they can have children and some, if not all, will be able to help this world. Lord knows it needs fixing.”
Sleep sweet, Momma, it’s your time to rest. Sealed with a kiss and all our love. Xoxoxo
To share a memory, please visit obituaries at www.olsonfuneral.com.
