Crista Crowder

Crista Grace Castleman Crowder (August 8, 1993 - April 19, 2023)

With heavy hearts we announce that our beloved Crista Grace Castleman Crowder has gone home to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Crista was born on August 8, 1993 and passed away on April 19, 2023, leaving behind her husband Travis Crowder whom she married in May of 2017 and her three children Cirilla Gray-Rose, Rowan Wade, and Aiden Lloyd, her father Jarrod Castleman, mother Summer Keeler-Bachert, brothers Logan Castleman, Seth Castleman, Chris Sargent, Josh Sargent, Harley Krause, Trusdice Crouch, sisters Keira Lyda, Aspen Kilpatrick, Cydni Sargent, Serenidy Crouch, grandmothers Davene Spencer and Doris D. Ruth, mother-in-law Rose Martinez, father-in-law Jack Crowder, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Crista had dreamed of one day becoming a children's special victim detective and began her education at San Juan College shortly after graduating. She was an animal lover and had several pets throughout her growing up and they all lived very long, loved lives. They started their family together, beginning with their daughter Cirilla born 2017 and then their twin boys Rowan and Aiden the following year in 2018. Despite being diagnosed with cancer, that did not stop Crista from pursuing her dreams while continuing to take care of her family and living to the best of her ability. Nothing would stop her from doing what she wanted to do, driven only by the love she had for her family and community as she continued to work several jobs and volunteering for fundraising, working with Toys for Tots, Coats for Kids, Animal Rescue, helping with bike runs, and several more charities. Her career path had changed to helping special needs children of all school ages and she was adored by everyone she was around. Her tenacity left her husband and everyone that knew her in awe, as she refused to let the cancer define who she was and continued to show everyone around her what it meant and felt to receive her love and kindness. She would always carry a smile that lit up an entire room, always making sure everyone around her was safe and taken care of and would always put her family and community first over herself. By the grace of God, those who believe and have faith will see her again. Crista is preceded in death by her paternal grandfather Jerry "Ron" Head of Farmington and great-grandmother Bessie L. Spencer of Bloomfield. Her family wishes to thank everyone who loved and supported Crista through it all. Crista was the very definition of compassion, tenacity, and grit. She loved everyone she had ever met, and it's that same love we will all carry in our hearts as we continue her mission in her stead while she rests. What a gift we were given to temporarily have the opportunity to know such a beautiful soul as her and she will be greatly missed but never forgotten.

Arrangements for her are being handled by Farmington Funeral Home at 2111 W Apache in Farmington, NM 505-325-2211. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Crista's name to a cancer foundation of your choice, her favorite being St. Judes. A service will be held for her at the First Baptist Church in Bloomfield, NM at 200 W Sycamore on May 6 at 10:00 am. Interment, immediately following at the Bloomfield Cemetery.