Obituary of Devonne Joy Engel Crick

Devonne Joy Engel Crick went to be with the Lord on March 31, 2015 after succumbing to illness in San Luis Obispo, CA. Born in 1929, Devonne was the oldest of seven children born to the late Norman and Grace Engel in Hillsboro, North Dakota, where they lived on a farm. She went to Concordia College and Moorhead State University graduating with her teaching credential. Devonne was a Kindergarten teacher and met the love of her life, Raymond Leroy Crick, while teaching in Port Angeles, Washington. They married on June 30, 1955 in Moorhead, Minnesota and moved from Washington to the San Francisco Bay Area, eventually making Mt. View, CA their home. Though their honeymoon getaway car announced "5 or Bust" they raised four children together and were active members of Los Altos Lutheran Church. Devonne tragically lost her husband, Ray, to leukemia/pneumonia after twelve years of marriage. Devonne returned to teaching pre-school and taught into her seventies. She was a favored teacher by students and parents, devoted to preparing her students for success in Kindergarten. Devonne is admired and loved for the strength and faith she held in raising four children, ages 10 months to 10 years, on her own after her husband passed. Her children were her pride and joy, as well as her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Devonne was a giver known for her generosity, hospitality, kindness, memory and sense of humor. Family and friends were of utmost importance to her and she regularly stayed in touch with them as well as prayed for them. Devonne relocated to San Luis Obispo, CA in 2010 to be closer to family. Devonne is survived by her four children Jeffrey (and Kathy) Crick of Beaverton, OR; Joy (and Dan) Ecklund of Atascadero, CA; Rebecca (and Tom) Spadoro of Santa Barbara, CA; and Jonathan (and Martha) Crick of Freedom, CA. She is also survived by her grandchildren Raymond (and wife, Ania) Crick, Grace Spadoro, Renee Crick, Bryanna, Melissa Devonne and Brandon Crick and great grandchildren, Aurora Devonne and Ariadna Crick. She is also survived by her sisters and brothers Barbara, Daniel, Bryan, Julie and Bruce and predeceased by her sister Joan. Visitation will be held from 5-8pm on Thursday, April 16th at Spangler Mortuary in Los Altos, CA. Burial will be held at 11am on Friday, April 17th at Alta Mesa Cemetery in Palo Alto, CA and her memorial service at 2pm on Friday April 17th at Los Altos Lutheran Church in Los Altos, CA with a reception in Luther Hall to follow. In Devonne's honor, the family encourages individuals to extend thoughtfulness to others. Take time to acknowledge important days or events of those you love and do something special.




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