Mrs. Hyo C. Cho Crisp

To Hyo C. Crisp, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Hyo, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Hyo really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Hyo was born on November 23, 1952 in Pusan, South Korea. Her parents were Cho Sam Tal and Pak T'ae Sok. Hyo was raised in Pusan, South Korea. Even as a child, Hyo had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around her. She was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. She couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. She was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, she succeeded in entertaining her entire family.

Always a good playmate, Hyo was easygoing and fun loving. She managed to lighten the mood wherever she was, even during family squabbles. She seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Hyo managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Hyo was raised with three siblings. She had a younger sister, Hyo Sun and two younger brothers Young Su and Young Cho.

All of Hyo's playful good humor carried over into her childhood. She was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed her to be constantly on the go. As a result, Hyo experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited her very well. She took part in Tak Won Do. In her spare time she liked play with the neighborhood kids. Hyo's memorable achievements included earning a belt in Tak Won Do.

Ask anyone who knew her from school and they would tell you that Hyo was a class “cut-up.” She didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Hyo simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of her friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Hyo, grades may not have been the most important thing to her, but she really did enjoy her school experience. Since experience was Hyo's best teacher. She enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite classes in school were music an Korean history. She will be remembered by classmates for her compassion.

Hyo never actually encountered a stranger in her dealings with people. She was drawn to individuals and crowds, using her gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate her audience. This quality allowed Hyo to continually develop new relationships, ever widening her circle of friends. Hyo delighted in her role among all her acquaintances, because she viewed them all as potential spectators for her performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Hyo was always right at home putting on a show among her friends. Hyo utilized her interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of her best friends were Kim and Lee. Later in life, she became friends with everyone she met. Hyo loved sharing life and having her home filled with people she knew.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Hyo very easy to approach. On March 18, 1977 Hyo exchanged wedding vows with Michael Crisp at Seoul City Hall of Seoul, South Korea. She was a loving and faithful wife. She was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

Perhaps the reason Hyo related so well to children was the fact that she never really completely grew up herself. Although she never had kids herself, she loved being around children. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” made her great with the little ones.. Hyo had the ability to focus her attention on the present moment. If she was spending time with kids, that’s where all of her attention was directed. Hyo's compassionate side prevented her from being a strict disciplinarian, and she could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. She could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Hyo had a knack for turning little things into games.

At work, as in life, Hyo was a real “people person. ” she had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and her enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Hyo liked to see herself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Hyo was an adaptable realist, using her common sense and trusting her experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Hyo's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around her to see Hyo as an excellent problem solver. Her primary occupation was a homemaker.

Hyo was a military spouse for 20 years. She received several awards including a received a Certificate of Appreciation upon Michael's retirement.

Hyo enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Hyo liked creating and making things. Her favorite pursuits were sewing and cooking. Hyo was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

Hyo felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if she wasn’t the best, Hyo loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Hyo relished the opportunities where she could make an impact, and she would often push herself to play above her abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Hyo never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. Recreational sports included participating in Fun Runs and half marathons. Hyo was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were soccer and baseball.

Hyo had an endless appetite for new and different activities. She was always ready to join in the fun and add her flair and energy to an organization. Because of her personality, her humor, and her ability to get along with everyone, Hyo's service was greatly valued by the organizations to which she belonged. She was member of the Atwater, California Running Club.

A generous person who often wore her heart on her sleeve, Hyo often found herself involved in activities she deemed important. She was charitable, kind and giving, qualities that made her a natural volunteer. Outspoken in her beliefs, yet tactful in her dealings with others, Hyo was a supporter of the Las Vegas Mission and several Catholic charities.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Hyo recognized that her faith was important to her throughout her life. She was a member of the Catholic Church for 54 years.

Naturally outgoing and generous, Hyo was regularly doing things for others. For her, the gift of giving to others was second nature. Though she never set out to gain individual recognition, Hyo was given accolades for her many and varied accomplishments throughout her life.

Living life in the fast lane suited Hyo just fine. It is no surprise that she loved to travel and to visit new and different places. She was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. She was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Her favorite places were San Francisco and West Yellowstone.

Hyo was a lover of animals and cherished her pets, enjoying them almost as much as she enjoyed being around other people. One of Hyo's favorites was Hercules, a Golden Cocker. They were best friends for several years.

Hyo believed that you had to experience life, and her life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived in 1993, Hyo took it in stride as one more way to have fun. Her new life involved relocating to Las Vegas, NV. With her boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Hyo remained busy with people and projects. In retirement, she found new pleasure in working in her home. Even in retirement, Hyo continued to stay in touch with her old friends and, since she'd never met a stranger, she made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

Hyo passed away on July 25, 2010 at her home in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hyo fought a long battle with a failing heart. She is survived by her husband Michael, her sister Hyo Sun and her brother Young Cho. Services were held at Palm Mortuary. Hyo was cremated. Her ashes are in Michael's care.

Hyo brought joy to all of those around her. She never had a mean bone in her body. She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She loved to share her energy, wit, and her zest for all of her activities with her friends and family. Hyo C. Crisp lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her. She will be remembered with a smile.