Sheila Ann Croxton

Sheila Ann Croxton, 81, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, October 3rd 2024 after a brief, but valiant battle with Pancreatic Cancer. Born July 26th, 1943 to Brooks Haney McCray and Vera Vesta Van Sickle McCray in Fort Smith, AR, Sheila graduated from Fort Smith Senior High School in 1961. She dove into music at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, receiving a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree in Music Education. Soon after graduating, she taught elementary music in Fayetteville, AR and then started teaching class piano. After returning to her hometown of Fort Smith in 1977, she opened “Sheila Croxton’s Class Piano School” where she shared her love of music to thousands of children over decades of teaching piano until she retired.

Sheila’s most important love started in the Fort Smith Senior High Band where she met her future husband of 57 years, Alvyn Gail Croxton, with whom she made a lifetime of memories. In addition to music, Sheila enjoyed flowers and gardening. She was a master flower show judge and was one of the founders of the Fianna Hills Garden Club. Outside of her love of music and gardening, Sheila enjoyed traveling with her family, having visited a large number of countries covering most of the continents in the world.

Sheila leaves a great legacy to family, friends and decades of former piano students that will be felt for generations to come. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Alvyn Gail Croxton and her parents, Brooks and Vera McCray. She is survived by her son, Kevin Croxton, her daughter-in-law, Karen Croxton, her grandchildren, Aaron and Addy Croxton and many close friends.

She will be deeply missed, but we are comforted to know that she is now in a better place tending the most beautiful gardens.

Visitation with family will be from 5-7 pm on Friday, October 11th at Edwards Funeral Home in Fort Smith, and the Funeral Service will take place on Saturday, October 12th at 2 pm, also at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel, officiated by Dr. Garrett Rea. Interment will be at Rose Lawn Cemetery in Fort Smith, following the Service at Edwards Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or go to www.stjude.org.