Beatrice "Bea" Crunk

My wonderful mother went to be with her Lord and Savior and Heavenly Father on Sunday, March 29, 2009 at 3:30 a.m.

She was born Jesse Beatrice Bryan on July 24, 1919 to Samuel Bryan and Sadie Alice Bryan in Ballinger, Texas. There she attended and graduated from Ballinger High School, Class of 1937. She married Carl Dent “Billie” Crunk March 21, 1942, lived in San Angelo, and moved to Paint Rock, Texas in the summer of 1959.

The oldest of nine children, “Bee-Bee”, as she was called by all who knew and loved her, was active in the Order of Eastern Star Chapter #391 in Paint Rock and served many times as secretary and as Worthy Matron. She worked for many years in the Concho County Sheriff’s Office and Tax Assessor and was an Honorary Deputy. (I remember many late night calls from a widow woman who had heard a strange noise or prowler outside her home. I’d see Mom, unafraid, grab her little pistol, jump in her car, and go investigate, finding that mostly a possum or raccoons were the culprits.) She served as secretary to Marvin Peek when he was County Judge of Concho County in the early to late 1970’s. She never tired of helping her town of friends with luncheons, elections, water boards, school functions, funerals, or any community event.

Bea was preceded in death by her husband and her parents; two brothers, Edgar Joe “Buck” Bryan and Steven Morris Bryan; two sisters, Bonnie Bryan Chessire and Evelyn Marjorie Bryan Wheeless.

She is survived by two wonderful sons, Joe Dell Crunk of Austin, and William F. “Bubba” Crunk of San Angelo; one sister, Dena Bullard and husband, Glenn, of Arnett, Oklahoma; three brothers, Bobby Bryan and Alan James “Pete” Bryan and wife, Ginger, all of Ballinger, Clarence “RePete” Bryan and wife, Ann, of San Antonio, and many, many nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held at the Paint Rock Cemetery on Wednesday, April 1 at 2:00 p.m. with Dr. David R. Currie officiating. Pallbearers will be Shipper Wheeless, Robbie Bryan, Randy Waterhouse, Glen Bullard, Dicky Hadley, and Billy Sims. Honorary pallbearers will be Hoss Kingston, David Wright, Brad Bryan and Rev. Gary Reeves.

I would like to personally give a heartfelt thanks to VistaCare of San Angelo and all of the wonderful staff for their help, prayers, and care during my mother’s last days and to Ballinger Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center and their staff of nurses who were truly a Godsend for the past 3 ½ years. Special thanks also to Lange Funeral Home.

The family suggests memorial donations be made to House of Faith of San Angelo.

Here’s a little song for ya, Bea, from your baby boy, Bubba:
I tore down the ramp to my mother’s door
I loaded up her wheelchair
She doesn’t need it anymore
That chair was her blessing and her hell in one.
Her calloused hands can rest
Now her struggles done
She’ll use her wings
Those precious wings
There’s no boundaries now her spirit’s finally free
And she will see
Where once she dreamed
She will rise above it all
Oh…she’ll use her wings

Go rest easy, Mom. I will love you ‘til time stands still.