Alice Elizabeth Crigler Richards passed away on August 10, 2026 in Buckeye, AZ. Born on January 27, 1939 in Phoenix, Arizona to Robert and Elsie Crigler, she lived a life marked by faith, family, and devotion to music. Alice was the younger sibling to Robert Crigler, Jr. and the Honorable T. Frank Crigler.
Alice was married to Edwin Richards for 67 years, and is survived by their five sons: Skip, Doug, Steve, Andrew, and Bob. She also leaves behind a legacy of love through her daughters-in-law, 13 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.
For many years, Alice was primarily a homemaker and provider of stability for her five sons. She was highly invested in their spiritual and musical upbringing. As her nest emptied, she turned to choral conducting and became the choir teacher at Grace Academy in Marysville, Washington, where she built an exciting music program for hundreds of children in the 1990s and early 2000s. She was known as kind, encouraging and disciplined in her work with children.
A celebration of Alice’s life will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at Greenwood Memory Lawn Mortuary in the Serenity Chapel, 719 N. 27th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009 followed by a committal service at Greenwood Memory Lawn Mortuary & Cemetery, 2300 W Van Buren St, Phoenix.
Alice will be deeply missed, but her life serves as a testament to faith, music and care for others. She leaves behind a legacy of kindness, and now rests in the glorious presence of God.
