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Kathryn (Steele) Draper





Kathryn (Steele) Draper of rural Brashear, MO was diagnosed with NMO in 1998. Dr. Weinschenker at Mayo Clinic diagnosed and treated her through 23 years of her illness. Kathryn was a courageous, determined woman who loved life and did not feel sorry for herself, but said there were so many others worse off than she. We do not grieve at her passing (July 26, 2021) as those who have no hope, for her trust was in Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior. To live is Christ, to die is gain. Praise Him!

121.50% Raised
$1,215.00 donated of $1,000.00 goal
26 Donors
Campaign has ended

We chose the Guthy-Jackson Foundation to memorialize Kathryn’s courageous fight against NMO. She was blind for a short time, was paralyzed from the waist down twice and walked again, continually suffered the nerve pain of the Devic’s Belt, and was given no chance to live 5 times in her 23 year battle. We believe Kathryn would be pleased to support this foundation because it is searching for a cure for NMO and is tied to young people, whom she served and loved for many years, as stated in her obituary that follows.

Kathryn Lila (Steele) Draper of rural Adair County, Missouri passed into Glory Monday, July 26, 2021. She is a child of the King, was wife to Darrell for 62 years, mother of Darren (Gigi) Draper and Kerri (Robert) Price, grandmother to Dax Draper and Macy Draper, Karise (Brandon) Rhea, Abriana (Daniel) Walsh, and Grant (Anna) Price, great-grandmother to Ian Knox Rhea, Abram Daniel Walsh, Elizabeth Susannah Rhea, Forrest Hudson Price, and Baby Rhea.

She was the most loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. And she showed the love of Christ to every person with whom she came in contact.

Kathryn was born to Virgil and Helen Steele in Schuyler County, 1942. She was the oldest of siblings Nancy Steele (deceased), Paul Steele (deceased), Ruth (Bob) Valentine, Russell (Tonya) Steele, and Philip (Debbie) Steele. She also leaves behind sister-in-law Connie (Jim) Maxey and brother-in-law Veldon (Candy) Draper, as well as loved nieces, nephews, & cousins.

Kathryn loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and by her husband Darrell’s side served the Church for 48 years. She was a member of the New Hope Evangelical Church in Kirksville. Her church family was an important part of her life and each person there was very special to her. Their faithful prayer for her supported her through many trials.

After earning her degree from Northeast Missouri State University (Truman), Kathryn served her community by administrating and educating in Christian, private, and public schools. She and Darrell also provided a residential and foster home for many children.

Kathryn fought a painful and debilitating battle with NMO (Neuromyelitis Optica)/Devics Syndrome for 23 years. She was a courageous, determined woman who loved life and did not feel sorry for herself, but said there were so many others worse off than she. She will be greatly missed, but with the hope of seeing her again soon. “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.” I Thes. 4:13-14

Recent Donors

  1. Dr. Robert & Peggy Collinge

    $40.00

  2. Lisa Tarr

    $50.00

  3. Linda Rogers

    $25.00

  4. Roger & Tanya Bland

    $20.00

  5. Jack & Evelyn Thomas

    $50.00

  6. Bethel Community Church

    $100.00

  7. Charlene Fisher

    $25.00

  8. Lonnie & Sandra Osborn

    $25.00

  9. Jerry & Pat Byrn

    $50.00

  10. Butch & Louise Newman

    $25.00


Donate Via Check
If you wish to donate via check, then please fill out this form, then mail both to:
The Guthy-Jackson Research Foundation, Inc.
Post Office Box 15185
Beverly Hills, California 90210
The Guthy-Jackson Research Foundation, Inc.
The Guthy-Jackson Charitable Foundation (GJCF) has created the public entity named The Guthy-Jackson Research Foundation, Inc. (GJRFI), a nonprofit public benefit corporation. While GJCF remains a private charitable foundation, the public GJRFI expands avenues for funding participation by allowing more corporations and organizations to donate to NMO research.
All financial donations are directed to The Guthy-Jackson Research Foundation, Inc
This includes donations from public, private and government organizations, as well as donations from fundraising events, families, friends and individuals like you. While all donations are now directed to GJRFI, our focus remains the same: funding research to find a cure for NMO. As always, 100 percent of all donations are appropriated directly to NMO research.
100%
of donations go directly to NMO scientific and clinical research
$55 million
invested to support scientific and clilnical research since 2008
76 projects
research projects dedicated to finding solutions to NMO


The Guthy-Jackson Research Foundation, Inc. does not allocate any donated monies to administrative support of the Foundation. Your gift directly supports the innovative scientific research of scientists who are working to find solutions for Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) Spectrum Disease. Once your contribution has been processed you will receive a thank you letter in the mail that you can use as a tax receipt. The Guthy-Jackson Research Foundation, Inc. for NMO is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization Tax ID # 47-2186708. Please consult your tax advisor if you are placing a donation from a country outside of the United States. PayPal fee is paid back to the research budget from the operations budget.