Obituary of Gay Crouse

Longtime Bethune, Colorado resident Marceline Gay Crouse passed away on March 8, 2009 at St. Anthony’s Central Hospital in Denver. She was 68 years old. Gay was born on July 9, 1940 in Hobbs, New Mexico to Wayne S. and Alma Jean (Brown) Dower. She was one of two children. Gay graduated from Burlington High School in 1958. On June 18, 1958, she married Barney Crouse. They lived in Burlington for a short time, and then moved to the farm south of Bethune. To this union four children: Vicki, Brent, Barry, and Gina were born. Gay loved life and lived every moment to its fullest. She especially loved being a Wife, Mother, and Grandmother and spending time with all her family. Gay seldom missed a ball game and was the best cheerleader any team could ask for. She took a lot of pride in watching her grandchildren accomplish their many successes. She engaged in many of life’s luxuries and was often found reading or doing her countless cross word puzzles. She never set still and saw to it that she kept her mind sharp. She was an avid cook and would always go out of her way to see to it that everyone was feed. Gay spent a great deal of her time in the kitchen and enjoyed collecting cookbooks. She was always eager to try new recipes and often shared them with her family. Gay never turned down an opportunity to travel and took many trips seeing the countryside. Regardless if the trip was several hundred miles to visit friends and relatives, or just up the road, she enjoyed all of her travels. She especially loved her many trips to Las Vegas. All of her children, grandchildren and friends hold fond memories of playing cards and board games with her. Gay always made time to stop and talk with people she knew. Everyone who knew Gay, will never forget her beautiful laugh and her ability to be uplifting. Even during her many years of sickness, Gay found a way to be positive and smile. Gay was preceded in death by her parents and her step father Glen Childs. She is survived by her husband Barney of 50 years, her daughter Vicki Cox and husband Al, their children Travis, Ryan and Abbey of Burlington, her son Brent Crouse and wife Cindy, their children Stephanie, Bobby and Cory of Bethune, her son Barry Crouse and wife Lenae, their children Breann and Brian of Burlington, her daughter Gina and husband Bobby, their children Logan, Brittany and Treece of Burlington. She is also survived by two Great-Grandchildren, Damion and Zoey and one sister Sue McDonald of Amarillo, Texas and many nieces and nephews. Graveside services for Gay Crouse were held on Friday, March 13, 2009 at the Fairview Cemetery in Burlington, with Pastor Bill Viergutz officiating. There was no visitation, as her wish was to be cremated. Memorials may be left in Gay’s name to the Pink Chaps Fund or to the Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital and may be left at or sent to the Bank of Burlington in Burlington, CO.