Vicki Lynne Crutchfield

May 29, 1957-December 7, 2020

Vicki Lynne Crutchfield went to be in God's Heavenly Band on December 7, 2020 after a 6 month battle with brain cancer. She was a band and orchestra teacher for 32 years spending her first year at J.P. Elder Middle school and moving to the old Handley Middle School where she was first a student and then became the last band director before the school moved to its new location. It was with great pride that she became the first band director at the new location where she spent 30 of the greatest years of her life. All of her students, coworkers and friends knew how much she loved music. Teaching music was her life. She retired in 2011 to be able to take care of her mother.

Just days before her 63 birthday, Vicki fell and had to go to the emergency room. It was there that she discovered the cancer. She took 3 0 radiation and chemo treatments. The treatments seemed to be helping, but the doctors discovered another tumor. She then took 5 special radiation treatments in Dallas. Many thanks to Jana Ladd who took her to those appointments. It meant so much to her.

Many of her former students, coworkers and friends have contacted her over the past 6 months during her battle with brain cancer. That contact meant so very much to her. In fact, there was one young man she taught in orchestra that wrote to tell her that he was sorry for being such a problem when he was in her program. She cried for hours just knowing that she reached someone so deeply. All of your contacts were such a relief to her. Vicki touched the lives of over 3,000 students during the course of her teaching career, and she was very thankful for the opportunity to do so.

Vicki began her love of music while playing the violin at West Handley Elementary. She then moved to Handley Middle School where she had Vickie Howerton as a teacher. It was she that gave her the desire to become a music teacher. At Handley, she played the string bass in the stage band. She took up the French Hom simply because no one else wanted to play it. She walked home from school every day except when her grandfather would pick her up. She said she was always the last one out the door because she had so many musical instruments to bring home. Her violin teacher didn't like her playing the bass, but she liked it.

She went to Eastern Hills High School and continued band and orchestra.

Carlton Lancaster and Charles Watts were her teachers. She tried out on the French

Horn and for the Youth Orchestra of Fort Worth. This was an honor since only the best Fort Worth musicians could try out under the leadership of John Giordiano. They got to travel to Europe. Vicki often spoke of being on the mountain featured in "The Sound of Music".

After high school, Vicki went to Texas Tech University and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. Dean Killion was the band director of the Goin' Band from Raiderland. She, her parents, and her sister Dianne (who played trumpet in the band) have such fond memories of those days.

Vicki's passions included traveling and giving back. She was always ready to explore the world. She was able to visit many places and has albums full of pictures from her journeys. She loved learning about the different countries, their cultures, and their histories. From taking pictures with penguins to taking pictures inside historic castles and churches, she loved it all. She often spoke of her travels with family and friends. Had COVID-19 not occurred, Vicki would have been on yet another trip to Europe!

Vicki often helped families in need, especially around Christmas time. She thought that everyone should be able to enjoy the spirit of Christmas. During this time of COVID, she volunteered to help bring lunches at West Handley. She was very involved in the alumni association from her alma mater, Eastern Hills High School. She believed that everyone should be willing to lend a hand to those in their time of need and that everyone should look to each other with love regardless of their differences.

Vicki is preceded in death by her father, CWO 3 Gerald (Jerry) Wayne Crutchfield, her maternal grandparents, Elzie and Estelle Crowley, her paternal grandparents, Erwin and Hazel Crutchfield, and her uncles Kenny and Bill Crowley. She is survived by her mother, Gladys Crutchfield, her sister, Cherri Dianne Crutchfield, her nephew, Tyler Tarkington, her niece, Mariah Tarkington, her uncle Tom Crowley and wife Carolyn, uncle Don Crowley and wife Glenda, aunt Carol Crowley, her uncle Bill Crutchfield and wife Molly, and her uncle Jimmy Crutchfield as well as many cousins and friends.

Due to COVID-19, the family will only have a viewing on November 10th from 12-2 pm at Shannon Rose Funeral Home at 7301 E. Lancaster Ave. Fort Worth, TX 76112 with a private graveside service to follow. To all her friends who have kept up with her during this time, we can't express what this has meant to her. Thank you for your support.