Funeral service for woman killed in Plaza fire set for Monday in Kansas City

Friends and family of Megan Cramer, the woman killed in the Plaza restaurant explosion, will gather Monday to remember her impact on Kansas City.

According to her family, Cramer died doing what she loved -- interacting with people in our community.

"She immediately became a part of the family," JJ's owner  Jimmy Frantzé said Monday during an interview on 41 Action News Midday. "Tremendous attitude. Bright. Made friends easily. Very professional.”

Cramer, who had worked at JJ's for about a year, was also a poet, writer, former attorney and social activist. She made strides in the LGBT community in Kansas City.

She died Feb. 19 in the gas explosion that destroyed JJ's restaurant on the Plaza. A family friend said family members arrived to Kansas City Sunday night and visited the site where JJ's once stood.

Cramer was born in Emporia.  Her family moved to Springfield when she was 3 months old.

Cramer came to Kansas City to attend college at UMKC, where she founded the first chapter of the lesbian and gay student group on campus.

A graduate of UMKC’s law school, Cramer prepared appeals for prisoners on death row.

She eventually returned to her first love -- being a server.

“That says a lot about somebody who’s strong enough to say ‘I don’t really know that I want to continue this path,’” Frantzé said.

Funeral services start at 1 p.m. Monday at Community Christian Church on the Plaza.

Another service is scheduled Thursday in Cramer's hometown of Springfield.