Michelle Lee Joe Obituary (2025)

Michelle Lee Kramer-Joe passed away on Sunday, March 16, 2025. Michelle was the first born child to Dennis and Vicie Kramer. She was born on October 8, 1970 at the US Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida. Later, the family moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where Michelle was joined by two younger sisters, Kimberly and Jennifer. The Kramer Family moved to Yakima, Washington, in 1983. Michelle began attending Lewis and Clark Junior High. There, she met her life long best friend, Leanne. Michelle loved to sing, and performed in the musicals Teen and Teen II where she proudly performed a solo. Michelle later attended AC Davis High School. While at Davis, Michelle participated in Aeolians, the school's choral ensemble. Eventually, Michelle graduated in 1989 from The Place, an alternative school where she could complete her studies and also care for her oldest son, Christopher. Michelle would go on to have three more children- Cody, Cassandra and Jordan. At the time, Michelle was a CNA at Chinook Convalescent Center in Yakima. She worked her way up to a management position and continued her employment until the facility closed. Michelle took great pride in her work caring for patients. On December 21, 2004, Michelle experienced her first great loss with the unexpected death and of her daughter, Cassandra Michelle Turner. This took a toll on Michelle and greatly affected the rest of her life. Michelle's 2nd oldest son, Cody, went missing in July of 2015. This began Michelle's advocacy work bringing awareness to Missing and Unidentified People. Michelle was desperate to find out what happened to Cody, and knew there were many other families going through the same pain. Michelle did everything she could to get the word out. She would share her story on podcasts, news reports, and in multiple articles in the Yakima Herald Republic written by Tammy Ayer. Every year, Michelle would go through the application process to have May proclaimed Missing and Unidentified Persons Awareness Month in Yakima. Michelle would speak before Yakima City Council and the proclamation would always be unanimously approved. Michelle then worked with Representative Gina Mosbrucker to bring awareness to the state level. On March 18, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill that would enact Cody's Law, which went into effect on June 11, 2020. Cody's Law requires investigating agencies to file missing person reports with the Washington State Patrol's Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit, collect DNA samples from family members, and seek consent from family or next of kin to obtain dental records. Michelle's mission was to streamline connecting missing and identifying people to their loved ones. She dreamed of Cody's Law going nationwide, and continued towards this goal until she suffered a stroke in June of 2024. Michelle had a huge heart. She was known to bring home strays- animals and people- in her early years. She was an animal lover her entire life and over the years had dogs, cats, hedgehogs, ferrets, miniature horses, pigs, birds and more. She would always help others however she could, and she would provide gifts every birthday and Christmas for her family. Michelle is survived by her children, Christopher Kramer and Jordan Joe, her long time life partner, Bob Slaven, her father, Dennis Kramer, her sister, Jennifer Kramer, grandchildren Natilie Turner and Bentley Kramer, and many more family members, friends, fellow advocates, and her beloved pets. She is preceded in death by her daughter, Cassandra Michelle Turner, her son, Cody Henry Turner (presumed), Mother Vicie (Quigley) Kramer, and sister Kimberly (Kramer) Dodd. Michelle lived her life in a way many could not understand, but she lived it on her own terms, right until the very end. She will be greatly missed. Brookside Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences may be shared at: www.brooksidefuneral.com