Pamela Frankie Crume

On August 9, 2024, Pamela Hartin Crume lost her valiant battle with cancer in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Throughout her last days she was attended by her husband and children who kept loving vigil. Pamela was born on October 2, 1948 to Frederick and Winifred Hartin, the third of four children. She grew up in Klamath Falls, Oregon and attended Sacred Heart Academy for twelve years, graduating in 1967. Partly because they were just a year and a half apart, Pamela and her sister Suzanne developed a close relationship which persisted throughout her life, and she was particularly supportive of Suzanne and her daughter Jennifer during Suzanne’s own recent health crises.

At the age of 16, Pamela first met Jonathan Crume, the man she always described as the love of her life. She and Jonathan were married on May 27, 1972 in Klamath Falls. Together they had three children: Chandra, Skyler and Damon.

After their family moved to Sedro Woolley, Washington, Pamela went back to school and earned an AA degree in Social Services from Skagit Valley College. For several years after that, she worked as Indian Child Welfare Coordinator for the Upper Skagit Indian Tribe before accepting the position of Executive Director of Skagit Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services. Over a 25 year period, she increased that agency’s budget to well over a million dollars. She excelled at grant writing and created an environment of professionalism and advocacy for victims of violence that was recognized throughout Skagit County. She oversaw a large staff of strong, opinionated women, both employees and volunteers, with grace and courage. 

After retiring, she and Jonathan moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico, where she enjoyed her retirement life and was proud of her home and garden. Pamela had a wonderful and spontaneous sense of humor, a definite sense of rhythm in a family of awkward dancers, and a love of music. Like her mother, she was artistic by nature. But her children were her passion. She loved, championed and supported them. Her grandson Dallas was her bliss. She also had a special relationship with great granddaughters, Leila and Anneka. She will be sorely missed.

Pamela is survived by her husband Jonathan, daughter Chandra Locke, sons Skyler and Damon Crume, grandson Dallas Locke, son-in-law Chris Locke, sisters Genevieve Hartin and Suzanne Phipps, brother Dave Hartin, nieces Jennifer Korthuis, Dawn Koch and Sunshine Hartin, and nephew Jason Phipps.

She was preceded in death by her mother Winifred Hartin and her father Fred Hartin, her brother-in-law Richard Phipps, and her dear friend Marilyn Lupinacci.

Her family would appreciate donations to Women’s Shelters in lieu of flowers.