Grace LaVerne Crabtree

Grace LaVerne Crabtree was born in Chicago, Illinois on November 5, 1921, to Charles and Ruth Klimcke. She was raised with her younger sister, Doris, and both grew up living in the back of the candy store their parents owned during the great depression.

Grace attended James Giles Elementary School and Austin High School where she met the love of her life, Harmon Crabtree. After a small courtship, they were wed on November 29, 1941, in the Acacia Presbyterian Church. Together they built their family by welcoming three children: Charles Crabtree, Karen Crabtree, and Sharon Howard.

Grace spent much of her adulthood being a housewife and mother to her children. She and her family lived in Chicago for a short period of time until a job offer in California had them moving out West to Fresno, California. Grace’s husband built their family home that they would reside in until they moved once again for work to Carmichael, California in the late 1960’s.

Grace loved to entertain, cook, and shop. Grace always had the latest fashion and enjoyed getting her hair done. She was a true classy lady! She always managed to have her social calendar booked with anything she fancied and was someone who didn’t shy away from trying new adventures.

After her husband passed away, Grace kept busy with making friends at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and at The Old Timer’s Club. She traveled the United States, Europe, and ventured on several cruises with her sister and friends that she met through these clubs.

When grace turned 70 she chose to go to work at the San Juan Unified School District in the food services department. There she enjoyed serving the kids lunch and snacks. After ten years of service, she retired and focused more on being around her children and grandchildren.

Grace was blessed with three grandchildren: Steven Crabtree, Michael Howard, and Karie Howard. She was also blessed with many great grandchildren: Michael Crabtree, Emily Crabtree, Nathaniel Howard, Deanna Howard, Ryan Howard, Zachery Howard, Jennifer Arndt, Owen Howard, and Levi Howard. She was even blessed with a great-great grandchild, Leviathan Stranix.

Once travel and working were behind her, Grace found friends and socialization through her local church, which she loved attending every Sunday.

During the final part of her life, she enjoyed being with her family reminiscing of yesteryear and sitting and petting her grand dogs.

Please join us in celebrating the life of Grace Crabtree on January 26th, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at Mount Vernon Memorial Park in Fair Oaks, California