Molly Beth Hammer Kruse passed away on Nov. 24, 2020, after a courageous 13 years of living with breast cancer.

Molly was born Aug. 20, 1972, to Keith and Roberta Hammer. She graduated from Excelsior Springs High School and studied theater at Missouri Valley College and Chadron State College. Molly married Jeremy Kruse and they resided in Mission, Kansas.

Molly was self-employed as a singer/actress, performing in the Kansas City area since 2005. In 2012, she left the theater to learn music theory from Kansas City jazz pianist Joe Cartwright. With her eclectic vocal background, Joe helped her find her home in the world of jazz and blues, drawing inspiration from the likes of Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington, Sara Vaughan and many others.

Molly was a graduate of the Artist INC program. She sang regularly at local, and beyond-local, jazz clubs and churches. She so appreciated performing with some of the finest jazz musicians in the Kansas City area. She sang the National Anthem for both the Royals and the Chiefs. Molly recorded three CDs, including her newest release “I’m Feeling Mellow,” plus “Out of This World” and “Live at Green Lady Lounge.”

Molly supported the Young Survival Coalition, organized by a group of young women, all diagnosed with breast cancer before age 40. She was a supporter of METAvivor, a metastatic breast cancer research, support and awareness group.

Molly was a lover of life and people. Her hashtag was #BlackLivesMatter.

Molly was preceded in death by her beloved sister, Ann Kathryn Brown, on Dec. 25, 2014.

Molly is survived by her husband, Jeremy Kruse; stepdaughter, Emily Kruse; and stepson, Aidan Kruse; parents, Keith and Roberta Hammer, Excelsior Springs; brother, Aaron Hammer and wife, Bonnie, of Blue Springs; sisters, Rachel Jeffries and husband, Nathan, of Lawrence, Kansas, and Nora Hammer and Tyler Lasche of Mission, Kansas; and will be so missed by her nieces, Lyndsi Williams and Miriya Stiles; and nephews, Tyler Hammer, Max Stiles, Finn Jeffries, and Henry Lasche.

Cremation. A celebration of life will be held in June of 2021.