Vanessa Elizabeth Crum

Vanessa Elizabeth Crum, 47, passed away on April 7, 2022 after a long and enduring illness. Vanessa was born on August 2, 1974 in Detroit, Michigan to Kenneth and Janette Dowd. At the age of 8 months, her family moved to Issaquah, Washington where she spent her childhood. Vanessa was an excellent student and gymnast as a child and teen, loves that would stay with her for the rest of her life. She attended Pepperdine University in Malibu, California where she graduated in 1991 with her degree in Liberal Arts and an Elementary school teaching credential. Vanessa was a born teacher. Her love of children and her passion for learning were at the core of who she was. It was also at Pepperdine where she met her husband, Brian Crum, and they were married just after graduation on July 27, 1996. They began their teaching careers together in the Thousand Oaks area of California living in Simi Valley for 12 years. Here they had their three children, Emma Elizabeth born in 2001, Connor Jackson born in 2006, and Hailey Jane born in 2007. Vanessa's children were the light of her life. As great as a teacher as she was, she was an even better mother. Her grace, guidance, unconditional love, and warmth will forever shape their lives. In 2008, they all moved to Bend, Oregon to start the next chapter in their lives. After taking two years off to be a full-time mom, Vanessa began teaching English as a Second Language at Ensworth Elementary school in 2010 and had been there ever since. She was a valued colleague at Ensworth and gave her all to her students. Vanessa was an incredible advocate for non-native speaking English students and threw herself into her work each day. Vanessa loved to read, scrapbook, cook, travel, camp with her family, and most importantly follow her children where ever they were playing, competing, performing, or dancing. She is survived by her husband Brian (47) and children Emma (20), Connor (16), and Hailey (14) of Bend, OR, her parents Ken and Janette Dowd of Issaquah, WA, brother and sister-in-law James and Susan Dowd of Camano Island, WA, grandparents Dennis and Sybil Steele of Auchlochan, Scotland as well as countless caring relatives and close friends. A small family memorial will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Bend on April 20, 2022 coordinated by Niswonger-Reynolds Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Vanessa Crum Memorial Scholarship Fund to be given to a Mt. View High School Senior each year.

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Vanessa Elizabeth Crum

August 2, 1974 - April 7, 2022