Paula Price Crotts

Paula was born on June 10, 1950, in Columbus, Ohio, to John Richard Price and Laurabell "Becky" Scott Price. At the time of her birth, her father was attending graduate school at The Ohio State University. From 1952 to 1957, Paula lived with her family in Caversham, England, an experience that sparked a lifelong love of travel. The family later settled in Woodbridge, Virginia, where Paula spent the remainder of her childhood. Her father dedicated his career to various government positions in the Washington D.C. area, while Becky shared her love of music as a teacher. Paula graduated from Woodbridge High School in 1968.

Paula earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Radford College in 1971. While attending Radford, she met the love of her life, Richard "Rick" Crotts. They were married on June 12, 1971, beginning a devoted marriage that would span more than 55 years. Paula later earned a Master of Arts in Special Education from Louisiana State University, continuing her lifelong commitment to learning and serving others.

Shortly after their marriage, Rick served as a Captain in the United States Army, and the couple spent three years in Frankfurt, Germany. It was there that Paula began her teaching career while working with the Department of Defense school system. In 1975, the family moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where Rick accepted a position with Exxon, and Paula completed her graduate studies at Louisiana State University.

On March 17, 1978, Paula and Rick welcomed their daughter, Jenifer "Jenny" Nicole Crotts, followed by their son, Matthew Franklin Crotts, on January 9, 1981. When Exxon built a plastics plant in Baytown, Texas, Rick played an integral role in the project, prompting the family's move there. Rick and Paula made Baytown their home for the next 40 years, where they raised their family and built a life filled with love, friendship, and cherished traditions. Later in life they relocated to Arizona to be close to their daughter Jenny and her family.

Paula dedicated more than three decades to education, teaching from 1971 until her retirement in 2004. Her career included tutoring, teaching kindergarten through fifth grade, serving military families through the Department of Defense schools in Germany, and concluding with 12 years teaching homebound students in Goose Creek. She believed every child deserves patience, encouragement, and the opportunity to succeed, and she poured her heart into each student she served.

Above all else, Paula was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She cared deeply for those around her and faithfully supported her family until her final day. She was lovingly known as "Gigi" by her seven grandchildren, who brought immeasurable joy to her life.

Paula found happiness in life's simple pleasures—sharing meals, laughing around the card table with her siblings, planning family vacations, and creating treasured memories with those she loved. She had a remarkable gift for finding hidden treasures at Saturday morning garage sales, often discovering special items for her beloved grandchildren. Her homemade soups became a comforting expression of her love and generosity, shared with family, friends, and neighbors alike.

Travel remained one of Paula's greatest passions throughout her life. Some of her favorite adventures included trips to England and Alaska with her siblings and unforgettable family vacations to Hawaii and Costa Rica with her children and grandchildren. Paula and Rick also cherished countless road trips, evening walks, and many Thanksgiving camping traditions with family and close friends. One of their most treasured traditions was spending family holidays in Frisco, Colorado, with Gene and Vickie Johnson and their family, creating memories that will be cherished for generations. Wherever she went, Paula's greatest joy was sharing the journey with those she loved.

Paula generously gave her time to her community through volunteer service with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo alongside her dear friend Peggy Robertson. She also served as an usher at Houston's Alley Theatre and volunteered with Love Network in Baytown, with close friends Debbie Beane and Beth Thompson.

She and Rick were charter members of Sjolander Road Fellowship, where they faithfully worshipped God, studied how to love others well, and served from the church's founding in 1990 until they relocated to Arizona. Paula faithfully served as the church treasurer for more than 10 years, using her gifts of being fiscally prudent and detail oriented. Through her church family, she found lasting friendships, meaningful opportunities to serve, and a deeper expression of the compassion and generosity that defined her life.

Paula was preceded in death by her parents, John Richard Price and Laurabel "Becky" Scott Price, her brother, Jeff Price, nephew, Jeff White, and her son-in-law, Bradley Wims.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 55 years, Richard "Rick" Crotts; her daughter, Jenifer Sullivan and her husband, Brady Sullivan; her son, Matthew Crotts and his wife, Reecie Crotts; her cherished grandchildren, Zeke Wims, Kaelyn Wims, Chloe Sullivan, Kate Crotts, Drew Sullivan, Addie Crotts, and Jacob Crotts; her sister, Pam Brown & her brother-in-law, Don Brown, her sisters Karen Howard & Jenny Singleton; her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Vickie and Gene Johnson; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members, dear friends, former students, and all whose lives were enriched by her kindness.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Paula's life on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at Surprise Funeral Care, 16063 W. Bell Road, Surprise, Arizona 85374. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Paula's memory.

Paula will be remembered for her unwavering kindness, generous spirit, adventurous heart, beautiful smile, and unconditional love. Whether she was caring for a student, planning the next family vacation, preparing a pot of homemade soup, or enjoying a spirited card game with loved ones, she made every moment meaningful. Her greatest legacy lives on in the family she cherished, the students she inspired, and the countless lives she touched with compassion, warmth, and grace. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.