Claudia Gay Crump

Claudia Gay Crump went home to be with God on Monday, November 17th, 2025, surrounded by the love of her children and the prayers of Rev. Dr. Jack Mannschreck who gave her final blessing. She passed peacefully at her home in West Bloomfield, Michigan. She was 86 years of age.

Gay was proceeded in death by her husband of 51 years, Jon E. Crump, Sr., in 2009. She is survived by son Jon “Skip” Crump, Jr. (Kim), daughter Ladessia Franklin (Kris), son Christopher Crump (Seval), granddaughters Gabby Franklin-Morley (Jordan), Olivia Franklin (Nick), Zara Crump, Kate Crump, and grandsons Scott Crump and Jake Crump.

The family wishes to thank Heart to Heart Hospice for their kind and compassionate care. Our special thanks to caregiver Ms. Darlene Pearson who provided extraordinary care, friendship and love in Gay’s final months.

As her friends and family would attest, Gay was a strong woman who survived three childbirths, leukemia and sepsis. Nothing could keep her down for long, because she always had more that she needed to get done. After she retired from Pontiac City Schools as Attendance Coordinator for Washington Jr. High School in 1999, she remained very active as a grandmother, Wedding Coordinator at Waterford Central United Methodist Church, avid gardener (always pulling weeds), a keen birdwatcher, and adopter/babysitter of innumerable dogs. While Gay will surely miss her “happy place,” her beloved cottage in Canadian Lakes, we are certain that she is basking in the love of her family who passed before her.

The family will hold a memorial for Gay in the summer of 2026 (details forthcoming) and ask that, in lieu of flowers, you consider a memorial contribution to any of the following: Michigan Humane Society(michiganhumane.org), Waterford Central United Methodist Church general fund (waterfordcumc.org/donate) or the Audubon Society of Michigan (michiganaudubon.org/donate).