Sara Crotts

She leaves her husband of 68 years, Druid L. Crotts; brother John F. Craig, III; daughter Connie C. Sowa; daughter Sandra C. Servine and husband Frank, grandchildren Michael and Katy, and two great-grandchildren. All are residents in the Yelm-Lacey area of Washington state.

Sara graduated from Denton High School in Davison County, North Carolina and attended the Women’s College at Greensboro, North Carolina. She met Druid Crotts, a Davis Townsend High grad, enrolled at NC State University, on a blind date that lasted for 68 married years.

During the early years of their marriage in Columbia, South Carolina, Sara supported her husband’s military career from active duty through to civilian placement with the government at Fort Jackson, and a transfer to Fort MacPherson in Atlanta, Georgia. Creating a wonderful home environment, Sara organized and managed all aspects of family life, raising two daughters, volunteering for various PTA and Girl Scout activities as well as tending to a menagerie of pets including cats, dogs, hamsters, and goldfish.

While in Atlanta during the mid to late 1960’s Sara put her organization and management skills to work outside the home by managing two independent vinyl record stores at Greenbriar Mall. Her interactions with record label distributors including RCA and Capitol allowed Sara to get up close and personal with her favorite country music artists Charlie Pride, Dolly Parton, Porter Wagner and Bill Anderson. After a record company conglomerate bought out the independent dealers, Sara moved on to working for a couple of local Hallmark stores, where she enjoyed helping customers pick out just the right card or gift for their loved ones.

A transfer for Druid to Fort Lewis near Olympia, Washington in 1983 brought new adventures for Sara. She volunteered with Meals on Wheels in Olympia and joined a ladies’ bridge club. Upon her husband’s retirement in 1989, Sara and Druid spent the next ten years traveling in their RV, exploring the U.S., including Alaska, and its vast wonders. They volunteered at National parks in various areas of the country, always forging friendships wherever they traveled. In 1999,they resettled in Yelm, Washington to be near their daughter and grandchildren.

A private family graveside service will be held at Mills and Mills Tumwater. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Sara’s name to your local chapter of the Salvation Army, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (https://www.stjude.org/) or Bristol Hospice (Bristol Hospice Foundation | At The Heart Of A Caring Community (bristolfoundation.org)