Joanne Elizabeth Crabtree Obituary (2023)

Joanne Elizabeth Angela (Joby) Crabtree, was born April 4th, 1963 in Toppenish, WA. Her homegoing was June 6th, 2023. The youngest of 7 children born to Isabelle (Betty) Crabtree and Michael (Miley Ray) Crabtree. At 3 months she was diagnosed with Downs Syndrome, at 6 years she had open heart surgery, she called it her zipper. She grew up in Zillah, Yakima and then moved to a group home called Kaskidian on Wilson Creek Road, in Ellensburg. When the group home closed, she became a client of Elmview until Ambitions took over the residential care of those clients. Joby graduated from Ellensburg High School in 1984. She worked at Pizza Hut, Elmview Industries, the Kittitas County Commissioners office and the Mid-State Co-Op office. She loved riding her blue Mongoose BMX bike all over town, Coca-Cola, Reeses Peanut Butter Cups and Taco Bell #6. At a certain point she decided that head hair was optional and had her head shaved, sometimes different colors on a bit of a hair at the front of her head. Her usual attire caused people to notice her, which included a T-shirt, safety vest and pants. This is how she dressed for life and how she was dressed for her homegoing. She was preceded in death by her father in 2002 and her brother, Patrick Justing Crabtree in 2021. She is survived by her mother, Betty, who is 102 years old and sisters, Fran Cuhtahlatah, Gloria Hill, Cathy Lambert and Cis Patnode and a brother, Chris Crabtree, nieces and nephews and her special caregiver Amy Mohler and many past caregivers. Her family is especially thankful to Jamin Mohler and Brookside for transporting Joby from Ellensburg to Waitsburg so her 102-year-old mother could say a personal goodbye. A celebration of her exceptional life will be held on September 16th, 2023, at the Pine Street Event Hall next to the Blue Rock Saloon from 2:00-5:00pm, with music and of course Reeses Peanut Butter Cups. All who knew Joby Crabtree are invited. Visitation Brookside Funeral Home and Crematory (Ellensburg) Sunday, June 11, 2023 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM 500 E Mountain View Ave Ellensburg, WA 98926