Priscilla Crabtree

Priscilla Aileen Crabtree died of natural causes Aug. 25, 2011, in Corvallis. Born in Oregon City, the daughter of George John and Margarett May Toedtemeier Horning, she grew up on the family farm in Wilsonville, which had been the Toedtemeier family farm since 1885. She attended Advance and Stafford elementary schools, and graduated from West Linn High School in 1952. In 1956, she graduated from Oregon State College with a degree in home economics education, and taught at Madras High School from 1956 until 1959. She attended Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., from 1959 until spring 1961, and received a Master of Science degree in family economics and household management. Further teaching included a year at Silverton Union High School, and a year at the College of Southern Utah in Cedar City. In 1963, Priscilla returned to Corvallis to begin studies leading to a doctoral degree in family resource management. During this time, she met Garvin Crabtree, and they were married March 20, 1965, at Calvin Presbyterian Church in Corvallis. Her community involvement began in 1942 in the 4-H Extension Program, with a Jersey dairy project in Clackamas County. This soon expanded into nine projects. Also, there were church activities in the Wilsonville area, and later yearbook and homemaking class activities at West Linn. Summertime meant summer camp at Colton, and 4-H Summer School at Corvallis. During college years, church, 4-H and campus activities continued with membership in related societies and honoraries. She filled officer positions in her sorority, Alpha Xi Delta, and as president of the Panhellenic Council. Following marriage, Priscilla completed the requirements for her doctorate, after which she held a faculty position in the Department of Home Management at Oregon State University from 1966 to 1980. At that time, she formed a partnership to grow and use dried materials as floral decorations. Later she became sole owner of the business, which continued to produce and sell these products until 1995. With Garvin, she helped in rearing and nurturing two children, Melissa Ann Crabtree and a son, Andrew Douglas. Again, church, where she was a deacon and elder, 4-H and school took priority in use of time. She was an active member of the OSU Folk Club, the Corvallis Evening Garden Club and the Benton County Genealogical Society. Garvin’s career on the faculty of the OSU Department of Horticulture encouraged Priscilla’s interests in entertaining, gardening and traveling. They visited friends and Garvin’s graduate students in countries across the Pacific and the Atlantic, but visiting their children and grandchildren was the most important to them both. They were blessed with a very special partnership. Priscilla was preceded in death by her parents. Survivors include her husband, Garvin; daughter, Melissa Crabtree of Orlando, Fla.; and son, Andrew Crabtree, daughter-in-law, Hannah, and grandchildren, Andrew Tor, Evangeline Rose and Elyse Viola, all of San Jose, Calif. Survivors also include her sister, Patricia Horton of Springfield; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. Sept. 2 at Calvin Presbyterian Church, with Pastor Marc Andreson officiating.

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Priscilla Crabtree

November 7, 1934 - August 25, 2011