Obituary: Crews

Joyce M. Crews, 96 of Fairbury died at 11:45pm, Saturday, December 30, 2023 at Serenity Villa, Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury.

Funeral Services will be 11:00 am, Saturday, January 6, 2024 at First Baptist Church of Fairbury with Pastor Brian King officiating.  Burial will follow in Graceland Cemetery, Fairbury. 

Visitation will be 4 to 7 pm, Friday, January 5, 2024 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury.  In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be directed to Serenity Villa at Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury or the charity of the donor’s choice.

Mrs. Crews was born February 28, 1927 in Fairbury; the daughter of Alfred and Betty (Lake) Callaby.  She married Ivan Everett Crews on December 9, 1945 in Fairbury.  Her husband, Everett passed away on February 28, 2002. Her parents, one brother, Donald Callaby; one sister, Joan Nolan; and one grandson, Jake Crews also preceded her in death.

Survivors include two daughters, Sharon (John) Kennedy of Ocean View, Delaware; Barbara (Ron) Reynolds of Pueblo, Colorado; one son, Steve (Mary Beth) Crews of Fairbury; a special brother In-law, Jerry (Sybil) Crews of Merced, CA; six grandchildren, Leslie (Tim) Beeler, Jeff (Trudi) Reynolds, Scot (Emi) Kennedy, Heather (Walter) Dinicola, Ramie (Jacob) Flegel and Devin (Callie) Crews, 15 great grandchildren and 12 great-great grandchildren.

Joyce was a life-long resident of Fairbury and you could find her smiling face and assistance at many area retail merchants during the 70’s and 80’s.  Her homemade peanut brittle will be missed by many, during the Christmas season she would make numerous batches to gift her friends and family.  She was an avid Chicago Cubs baseball fan and was easily drawn into the media coverage of anything to do with the Royal Family.

Along with raising her family she had many talents from Crocheting to making furniture. Joyce had a heart of gold and loving spirit that will forever be missed by all who knew and loved her.