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Shirlene Sartin Crow, 84

Shirlene Sartin Crow, 84, born May 11, 1933, in Bradleyville, Mo., to Frank and Selba Sartin, went to her heavenly home Nov. 21, 2017. She passed away at Hospice House in the caring hands of the special people of Hospice of North Idaho. She resided on Barbie Street in Coeur d’Alene for five years before her passing, but her heart was in the home that she and her husband built on Totten Lane in Dalton Gardens. She was married to James Melvin Crow for 50 years and he was the love of her life. He preceded her to his heavenly home in 2003. She often said that the years here in the Northwest were some of the happiest years of their married life. The home on Totten Lane became the family home that drew us every summer.

Shirlene enjoyed every minute God gave her to admire the beauty that surrounded her here in the Northwest. She looked forward to the mama deer that gave birth to her fawns in her backyard each spring. The hoot of an owl from the tall pines on Canfield Mountain was her good-night chorus. She loved watching the horses that ran gracefully, and grazed peacefully in the fields behind her home. Her garden produced raspberries that she and Jim planted in the first years they lived on Totten. It was always fun to guess when the first berries would come on, and for Shirlene and son-in-law Bruce it became a friendly competition to see who would get the first juicy red treat of the year. Picking the raspberry patch has been a source of joy for four generations of children and grandchildren.

When the home could no longer be cared for by her loving hands, it became the home of her daughter and her husband. Shirlene returned often to the family home, which is filled with happy memories of welcoming the first great-grandchildren, birthdays, holidays and many family dinners. There was never a want for a house or dog sitter, as Shirlene loved staying at her Totten home.

Shirlene adored her family and her family adored her. She was a significant part of each of their lives. She was mom to her daughter, Marsha, and husband, Bruce Becker, and Grandma to Erin and husband, Matt Usher and Bradley Becker. She was great-grandma to Emma and Tanner Crews, whom she loved endlessly. She was a sister to Donna and husband Tom Cords; Pete and wife Donna Sartin (Donna preceded Shirlene in passing) and Betty Becker, whom became a loving sister by marriage. Her warm and giving heart was appreciated by all of her nieces, nephews, and family by marriage.

Shirlene was a woman of great faith and she lived a life that was good and wholesome. She showed her family how to give selflessly and to understand that importance of even the smallest act of kindness. When Jim preceded her in going home to the Lord, Shirlene showed amazing strength as she learned how to step out and live without her beloved husband. She surrounded herself with wonderful friends who, most importantly, shared her deep and abiding faith, and also shared her sense of humor, adventure and inquiry. She was part of a prayer group, a book club and became a more-than-decent pinochle player. She and the “Play Girls” were regulars at the Kroc Center productions. It is an understatement to say that she was an active woman! In her last summer on earth, she parasailed, zip-lined, rode her bike, and walked 100 miles in 29 days!

As I write this, I am having difficulty summing up the most important aspects of my Mother’s life. There really is no way to sum it up, as she infused every minute with simple acts of kindness and love. For all of us who knew and loved her, we will miss those physical acts, but we will be forever grateful for the warm and wonderful memories.

Please join us in remembering Shirlene at her memorial at 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 8, 2017, at the Hayden Bible Church, 290 E. Miles. Light refreshments will follow. Comfortable attire would be appropriate.

Yates Funeral Homes has been entrusted with the care of arrangements. Please visit Shirlene’s memorial and sign her online guestbook www.yatesfuneralhomes.com. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 N. Government Way, Hayden, ID 83835.