Bayannah Crabtree

Bayannah LaProse Crabtree was born August 22, 1934, in Columbus, Georgia. She shared the same name as her mother and quickly became known as daughter Ann. Both her father, Dolphin Timothy Crabtree, and mother, Bayannah LaProse Gray Crabtree, precede Ann in death. Ann had no siblings. At age 84, she passed away Saturday, December 29, 2018, in Port Arthur at Bonne Vie skilled nursing facility.

Ann grew up in Columbus, Georgia and Live Oak, Florida. In 1949 her family relocated to Nacogdoches, Texas. She graduated high school in Nacogdoches in 1952 and then attended Stephen F. Austin State University where she was an honor student and member of Alpha Chi. She received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Stephen F. Austin in 1955.

After graduation Ann left Nacogdoches and worked for the First National Bank of Dallas and then came to Nederland to begin her long career as an educator. She taught for the Nederland Independent School District from 1958-1962, and for one year she was employed by the US Army Dependents’ Education Group at Crailsheim, Germany. She resigned in 1964 citing professional commitment and returned to teaching in Nederland. She went on to serve the district for 50 years both as a classroom teacher and as a homebound instructor.  Ann loved the classroom and loved her students. She touched so many lives.

Ann blogged before blog was a word. She authored amazing journals which reflect her travel experiences and keen insight into people. Her father’s letters to “my darling girls” written when he was stationed in Japan during WWII served as an inspiration for her own journals. The letters were romantic and insightful and contained a bit of intrigue. In one of her first journals at Crailsheim she wrote about camping her way across Europe for less than $500. She definitely inherited his sense of adventure and travel became her first passion.   When she was a young teacher, Ann would spend weekends at her beach house or pack her van and head off to campgrounds across the United States. Then Ann developed a more refined love of travel–cruise ships. Ann lived for cruising. Her bookcase is full of albums carefully documenting each excursion.

Her other passion was people. When she decided she liked you, she liked you. Ann was loyal and fiercely protective. Ann’s buddies popped up at Spectrum and MCT and other places throughout the community; she probably never imagined she had so many buddies who will miss her. Ann loved her school family and her church family and community and made bonds of friendship that will never sever. The Gulley family and the Arena family adopted Ann so she always had a home that welcomed her at any time. She may have been born an only child, but she was forever part of a loud and rowdy bunch. Ann will be missed.

A special thanks to the caring staff at Bonne Vie skilled nursing facility, and thanks to Rudy and Gloria Adams and Patricia Gibson for their attention and care. Also, thanks to the many, many friends for cards and calls that brightened Ann’s day and the many acts of kindness Ann acknowledged. Let’s just hope she left her red pencil behind when she reads this! We love you, Ann.

At 10:00 on Saturday, January 12, 2019, an informal visitation for friends will be held in the Nederland First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall, followed by a service in the Sanctuary at 11:00, under the direction of Broussard’s, 505 North 12th Street, Nederland.