Lillian Grace Crutchfield: Sept. 27, 1926-Dec. 23, 2017

Lillian Grace Crutchfield, 91, of Seattle, passed Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017. Lillian was born to Ralph Scarborough and Vesta Scarborough-Judd, Sept. 27, 1926, in Seattle.

One of three daughters, Lillian’s older sister Helen Moe and stepbrother Bill Judd preceded her in death. Her younger sister Francis (Dee Dee) Bartlett still resides in Washington state.

Lillian graduated from Queen Anne High School in 1944. During WWII, she traveled by train to Las Vegas to marry high school sweetheart Donald Albert Grevé, who was training in the Air Corps as a bombardier.

After starting their family in Seattle, Lillian and Don moved to her beloved “Tara” on Whidbey Island, in 1965, where they enjoyed raising five children and exposing them to the great joys and freedoms of island living. Lillian was passionate about effecting the most positive change in people, believing everyone needed a place to feel welcomed. As a result she became one of the founding members of the Help House in Bayview, which opened in the mid-60s.

Staffed by volunteers, it was open to youth, homeless and any needing help. She participated in creating the Teen Club on South Whidbey, an organization which sponsored trips to Canada, San Juan Islands, weekend retreats at Tara as well as monthly meetings. She was also a leader in ecumenical movements bringing South Whidbey churches together for joint meetings of songs and prayer.

In 1971, Lillian became a customer service representative for Whidbey Telecom. It was here, on Whidbey, where Lillian later met and married, James A. Crutchfield.

For the next 39 years, when they weren’t traveling the world, Lillian and Jim would divide time between Seattle, San Juan Island and weeks boating through Puget Sound on their troller “Toby.”

Lillian was preceded in death by her first husband Don Grevé, husband Jim Crutchfield, and sons Daniel Ralph Grevé and David Earl Grevé. She is survived by three children: Douglas Albert Grevé, Nancy Leona (Grevé) Herman, Dean Norton Grevé (Monica Gayle Grevé); two stepchildren: Jim Crutchfield Jr. and Steve Crutchfield; 14 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life will take place on Whidbey Island at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 11 at St. Augustine’s-in-the-Woods, 5217 S. Honeymoon Bay Road, Freeland.