Couple await confirmation that victim in JJ’s was their daughter

Hours after rescue crews recovered a body from the rubble of JJ’s restaurant, a Springfield family is waiting for formal word that it is their daughter, sister and aunt, Megan Cramer.

Officials with the Kansas City Fire Department notified Carter and Genny Cramer this morning that they believed crews found Cramer’s body, but are awaiting confirmation from medical records. A family friend said that process might take 24 to 48 hours.

Cramer, 46, who grew up in Springfield, has lived in the Kansas City area for 26 years. She came to Kansas City after high school to attend the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where she earned her undergraduate degree and a law degree.

“Megan loved people, books, films, writing, reading and painting,” said a statement from her family.

Cramer had been working at JJ’s as a server for several months. Another server at the restaurant had recruited her from the Melting Pot, a Plaza restaurant.

Before her body was found, co-workers were searching social media sites and talking with one another about her whereabouts.

“She has a great sense of humor,” said Josh Lehne, a bar manager who wasn’t working Tuesday night. “Everybody loves her. Nobody can say anything bad about her.”

Along with her parents, Cramer’s sister, Stephanie, and niece August McGrail live in Springfield.