Christine Taylor Crowley

Christine Taylor Crowley, 91, passed away on Sunday, May 31, 2015, at Wexford House after a period of declining health. She was born on July 19, 1923 in Pickett County, Tennessee, the daughter of the late Hobert McKinley Taylor and Addie Rener Taylor. Christine graduated from Livingston Academy and attended Tennessee Tech where she played in the band. In Kingsport, she was a sixty-year member of Colonial Heights United Methodist Church, the Upper Room Sunday School Class, Erma Slaughter Circle, and United Methodist Women. She sewed vestments for the sanctuary and costumes for church dramas and special events. While family and friends were her heart’s joy, she had many other interests: as a volunteer and Board member of Holston Valley Community Hospital Auxiliary she made hundreds of heart pillows for adult patients, and preemie caps, receiving blankets, and quilts for the newborns. Christine had great respect for Appalachian craft. As a founding member of First Frontier Quilters she furthered the art of quilting in our region. In 1992 she founded “Crowley’s Covers” and sold handmade traditional quilts in shops and galleries in the Southeast. She also excelled at the nimble and creative arts of sewing, knitting, weaving, and basket making and often engaged in these activities at Exchange Place. She was President of the Sullivan County Home Demonstration Club which served to educate in the skills of home management. The entire family took up archery as a hobby; in 1957, Christine was archery’s Southeast Champion in the Women’s Division. Later she tried golf. As a result of her 1995 hole-in-one, she became a member of the “Elite Club” at Warriors Path State Park Golf Range and she truly would “rather be golfing.” She enjoyed camping, hiking, and many happy travels with family. In later years the trips were down Memory Lane and her best times were spent with grandchildren and great-grandchildren. And she especially loved the MacDonald cousin’s reunion held every September in her hometown, Byrdstown, Tennessee. In addition to her parents, Christine was preceded in death by her husband, James D. Crowley; son, David Crowley; daughter, Barbara Crowley Madruga; brothers, Alf and Bob Taylor. She is survived by two daughters, Carol (Adam) Bowling and Diane (Doug) Hanson; sister, Patsy Ruth Sells; brother, John William (Betty) Taylor; grandchildren, Holly Tunkel, Stuart (Christine) Craver, Heidi Parker, Daniel Bowling, Liesl (Chad) Johnson; great-grandchildren, MacKian and Olivia Craver, and Taylor Johnson; sisters-in-law, Ruth Upchurch and Lorene Taylor; brother-in-law, Claude (Carolyn) Crowley; and several nieces and nephews.The family will receive friends Thursday, June 4, 2015 from 11:00am until 1:00pm at East Lawn Funeral Home. Funeral services for Christine Taylor Crowley will be held Thursday, June 4, 2015 at 1:00pm in the East Lawn Funeral Home Chapel. We invite our friends to join us for a light lunch to be served immediately following the service. A private burial will be held in the Garden of the Apostles at East Lawn Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be family and friends. Christine’s family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Wexford House 200 Hall. To her caregivers Martha, Maria, Susan, Nita, Kay, Lorraine, and Glenda for your gift of loving attention – you can never know how much we have valued you. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to your favorite charity. East Lawn Funeral Home, 4997 Memorial Blvd, Kingsport, TN 37664; 423-288-2081 is honored to be serving the Crowley family.