Catherine P. Crabtree

Catherine Patricia Crabtree, age 93, of Tuscaloosa, AL, passed away at her home on April 29th, 2025. A visitation service will begin at 10:00 am on May 13th, 2025 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, followed by a Mass Service at 11am. A private family graveside service will be held at Memory Hill Gardens.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Jack Crabtree; parents Otto and Marie Entenman; brothers: Charles, Francis, Marty and sisters Marie, Nancy.

She is survived by sons, Andy Crabtree (Lyn) of Boise, Idaho; Mark Crabtree (Pamela – deceased) of Norman, Oklahoma; Brian Crabtree (Lois) of Moundville; and Jay Crabtree of Tuscaloosa. Daughters, Jo Anna Locke (Donald) of Northport; Patricia McLaughlin (Hank) of Tuscaloosa: Jennie Loper (Anthony) of Huntsville: She is also survived by her younger brother Robert Entenman of Pennsylvania, 21 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren.

Catherine was born November 30th, 1931, in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. While attending nursing school at Temple University, she met her future husband Air Force Sergeant Jack Crabtree in 1953 and married shortly afterwards. Over the next twenty years, Catherine and her seven children moved all over the world as a military family. From assignments in Plattsburgh, New York, the Philippines, Taipei, Tiawan and Rapid City, South Dakota, Catherine embraced the life of a military wife and mother. After retiring from the Air Force, the family moved back to Jack’s hometown in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Catherine enjoyed a twenty-plus year career working for the Tuscaloosa City Board of Education and studied Food & Nutrition at the University of Alabama. She was a longtime parishioner of Holy Spirit Catholic Church and enjoyed many activities and volunteer service. In her later years, she enjoyed playing cards and the Ladies Guild.

She was an excellent crocheter, an avid swimmer, and couldn’t pass up a good garage sale.

Catherine was her own woman. She always kept it real, and always said what was on her mind, whether you liked it or not. She loved fiercely and made sure her love was shown as well.

Honorary pallbearers will be her sons, Andy, Mark, Brian and Jay Crabtree.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to The Wounded Warriors Foundation or Holy Spirit Catholic Church.