Nona Agnes Crouse was born on September 5, 1927 and was raised on a working farm in Wray, Colorado. She was the youngest of 13 children: Bernie, Ted, Floyd (Bus), Eunice, Arlene, Christina (Teenie), Paul, Earlene, Jack, Melvin, Melvene and a baby boy who died at birth. Nona was most influenced by her mother, Ethel Crouse. She was not only her mother, but she was also her best friend.
During her childhood, Nona experienced the rigor and hard work of keeping a farm going. But she also enjoyed simple pleasures, like riding horses with her siblings, farm fresh food and riding to school in the back of a cart pulled by her donkey. Her father was an excellent banjo player, so all the kids learned to love music. Nona and her siblings learned to play the guitar and banjo as this was their primary entertainment. One of her proudest moments as a little girl was winning an elementary school contest playing the banjo. Music truly continued to remain a centerpiece throughout Nona’s adult life. Social gatherings with family and friends often included playing instruments, late night sing-alongs or dancing to favorite songs. Nona also wrote her own music. In fact, at 80 years of age, her Grandson, Ryan, took one of her songs that he had recorded and he entered it into a contest. To our families delight, she won “Song Writer of the Year”.
At the age of 19, Nona moved to Seattle to live with her sister, Eunice. It was there that she met Morris (Dick) Piha, who became the love of her life. Nona & Dick said “I do” in October of 1947 and they remained married for 70 beautiful years. Together they had 4 children (Candy, Sam, Tammy & Carmella), 7 grandchildren (Shannon, Ryan, Nicole, Max, Jonathan, Tristan & Serena) and 6 great-grandchildren (Samuel, Amina, Gabriella, Violet, Selah & Delaney). Over the years Nona worked along-side of Dick in the retail shoe business, and also worked as a devoted homemaker. In 1974, they moved from Seattle to Sacramento, California where they opened a shoe store, The Foothill Shoe Tree.
During their marriage, Nona and Dick shared a mutual love of traveling. In their early years they enjoyed everything from weekend getaways in their little Shasta trailer, to longer car trips throughout the western United States. In later years they purchased a larger recreational vehicle and enjoyed month-long trailering forays throughout Mexico. Eventually they sold their trailer and they hit the high seas. After their first cruise trip, they were hooked and cruising became one of their favorite ways to vacation. All of their trips provided life-long memories, but in later years Nona especially loved to talk about their past travels to Europe. She was so grateful they had the opportunity to visit far-away places rooted in their family history and also holy places with religious significance.
When the traveling came to a close and changes in their health made it necessary for Nona and Dick to remain home, they were both blessed with years of loving care from a bevy of wonderful caregivers. Dick passed away on October 20, 2017. And Nona joined her beloved on March 31, 2021. The void felt by those they leave behind, can now be filled with the heartwarming vision of Nona & Dick reunited and holding one another’s hands once again. Still crazy in love and making beautiful music together, for all eternity.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18