Obituary of Cheryl Ann Crump

On February 12 at 6:40 PM, our Mom, Cheryl Ann Crump took her last breath with her beloved husband of 55 years, Jim, holding her hand. She spent her last day surrounded by her children, sharing laughter, tears, and fond memories.

She was born March 21, 1946, to John "Jack" and Ethel Carr in Kincaid, Kansas. Her father gave her his sharp wit and playful nature, and her mother taught her a quiet, caring nature she extended to all around her. She had many happy stories of her childhood and loved her siblings deeply. At Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg Kansas, she met (or as he puts it "she chose") James Crump, her chemistry lab TA. They wed in 1967 in Garnett, Kansas.

After living briefly on the East and West Coasts, they settled in Duluth/Hermantown, MN. She worked as a pharmacy clerk and as a home health aide, but her most rewarding career was raising her four children: Steve (Michelle) of Barnum, Amy (Alan) Onken of Twig, Amanda (Tom) Goodreau of Hermantown, and Jamie (Jason) Kraus of Culver. She made frequent trips to Kansas to see her beloved family there and hoped to someday move closer to them but had grown roots in Minnesota. She leaves behind her 7 beautiful grandchildren: Nathaniel, Kelly, Evelyn, Nicholas, Charlotte, Adeline, and Jack.

Cheryl loved the outdoors, camping, gardening, and fishing. She loved all animals, especially dogs. She cared for her dogs like members of the family, and she loved all of her “grand pups.” She expressed her creativity through quilting and often gifted beautiful quilts to friends and family. She touched all who met her with an enormous and generous heart.

Her favorite sports team was the one her kids or grandkids were on, but she also loved Jayhawks basketball, Bulldogs hockey, Twins baseball, and Packers and Chiefs football. She touched all who met her with her well-timed, wry humor, and with her enormous and generous heart. She opened her home to any friends of the family who needed a hot meal or a sympathetic listener. She spent her final years declining from Alzheimer's dementia, but her playful, caring spirit always remained.

Cheryl is preceded in death by her parents, sister Carolyn, brother-in-law Earl Roberts and sister-in-law Mary Carr. In addition to her husband, children, and grandchildren, she is survived by brothers Elwyn, JD (Donna), sister Charlotte Roberts, many special nieces and nephews, and close family friends John and Gerry McGraw. The family extends a special thank you to the caring staff at Marywood at the Benedictine Living Community. Services will be at the Cremation Society of Minnesota in Duluth on Tuesday, February 21. The service begins at 3 p.m., visitation at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Cheryl's ashes will be spread over her favorite places in Minnesota and Kansas.