Katherine Crick

Katherine Mae Jeanette Lee Crick passed away Monday, Aug. 25, 2014. She was born on May 5, 1928 at Estelle, Ga., a mining community outside LaFayette, Ga. Her dad, John Herman Lee, an early Pentecostal lay leader, and her mother, Della Mae Nalley Lee, birthed 10 children. At an early age, her family moved to Kettle Island, Ky., another mining community; and in the early 1930s, the family finally settled permanently in Chattanooga. She attended the Jefferson Street Elementary School, Dickinson Junior High School, and graduated from Chattanooga Central High School in 1946. She received a Social Studies Degree from Columbus University, Columbus, Ga. ca. 1977. Her Faith: Jeanette was the beneficiary of a deep Pentecostal heritage. Around 1918 her Dad was exposed to a Pentecostal revival led by the dynamic evangelist, J. W. Buckalew. Her Dad's own baptism in the Spirit in that revival became the foundation upon which Jeanette testified and lived as a Christian. Saved and filled with the Holy Spirit as a teenager, Jeanette never wavered from these deep, Pentecostal roots. Wherever she and later her husband, Dr. Robert Crick, served in ministry, she was known as the passionate defender and practitioner of her faith. For as long as her family can remember, Jeanette read through the entire Bible each year; was a "woman/mother/wife of prayer"; and was involved in numerous ministries at local churches, on military bases, and most especially in seeing that her family members were rooted in a faith founded upon the life, ministry, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. In prayer she often received special visitations of the Holy Spirit; with messages of deep significance for her family, her church, or for an individual facing a serious crisis. Even during her advanced battle with Alzheimer's disease, often, at special prayer times, she would give witness through Spirit language, of the deep things of God. On one occasion, she came out of her coma-like state, with a prophetic message concerning the plight of thousands in the Philippines whose lives had recently been ravaged by floods. The Lord often honored her with these deep prophetic gifts. Her favorite scripture was Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Her Ministries and Work: Jeanette and Robert Crick married in 1948; enjoying family, life and ministries together for 66 years. Deeply active in local church ministries, they both felt a call to full time ministry. When Robert joined the Air Force in 1952, they, together, found the military to be a ripe evangelistic field. During Robert's time in the Air Force, and later educational pursuits in San Antonio and Nashville, Jeanette was trained and became a technician for some of IBM's earliest computer systems. In San Antonio, Texas, she was a computer programmer with USAA, and later in Nashville, Tenn., she was selected as the computer technical supervisor with the state of Tennessee. She was always involved in Robert's pastorates and other ministry assignments; these early assignments included ministry with the Church of God Hispanic Department, San Antonio, Texas and pastoral assignments at LaFayette and Red Boiling Springs, Tenn. Later, when Robert entered the Army Chaplaincy (1961-1978), she participated and led military chapel ministries; developed Sunday School programs; helped establish Pentecostal Base Fellowships; was a certified lay counselor; and for many years, led Bible Study groups with Army Physicians' wives. Her ministry not only enhanced the chaplaincy programs of her husband, but, she was a noted speaker/workshop leader in areas such as Marriage and Family Enrichment, Care Ministry for the Abused, and other programs that required technical training and ministry gifts. She and her husband's Army chaplaincy ministries led to assignments including Germany, Fort Campbell, Ky., Fort Benning, Ga., Fitzsimmons Army Hospital, Denver, Colo., National Institutes of Health, Washington, D.C., Fort Hamilton, N.Y. and Vietnam. When Robert retired from the Army in 1978, Jeanette, as was her style, assisted in any and all areas of her husband's work at the Church of God Department of General Education, the Pentecostal Theological Seminary, and, most especially their joint commitment to develop an extensive Church of God Chaplaincy Ministry. In these endeavors she served as full time director of the Seminary's Business and Finance Offices, as administrative assistant to the president of the Seminary, as Student Aid Director, as administrative editor of the Ministry to the Military On Guard Magazine and as the coordinator of finance for the Chaplains Commission. Testimony after testimony tells of her passion and commitment to these many ministries. With the assistance of her family, in the 1980s, she spent seventeen consecutive 12-15 hour days in wiring the entire Seminary and Chaplains Commission for a comprehensive installation of an up to date computer networking system which fulfilled academic development and accreditation standards, and, an integrated financial systems which tracked students' academic and ministry progress, including their financial needs. She loved to be involved with Seminary students and their families, especially those going into chaplaincy ministries. After all these years, she is still known by hundreds of former students and chaplains as their "Spiritual Mom." She also served in the role of counselor for Juvenile Court in Bradley County, Tenn. Jeanette's number one ministry was that to her immediate family. She was the perpetual "mother hen" in caring for and loving her children and, later, grandchildren. During Robert's assignment to Vietnam and other isolated areas, Jeanette maintained a home front with a strong spiritual foundation. Regularly, while Robert was in Vietnam, she recorded and sent to him audio tapes of the kids talking, singing and participating in devotions in order to keep the family closely connected. Her children will forever be thankful for her holiness and faithful prayers of protection and blessings. Her Family: Jeanette is survived by her husband, Dr. Robert Crick, of Cumming, Ga.; and her three children, David Alan Crick (Lisa Robyn), of Hoschton, Ga., Jonne Lynn Crick of Knoxville, and Robert Dale Crick (Carmen) of Cumming, Ga. "Omah" is also survived by her five grandchildren, Rachel, Jonah, Samantha, Dylan and Mackenzie. She is survived by siblings, John Herman Lee Jr. (Camille), Paul Eugene Lee (Sarah "Tiny"), Geraldine Amanda Cobb, Janie Ruth Lauer (Peter) and Franklin Delano "Dee" Lee. "Aunt Jeanette" is survived by many loving nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, John Herman and Della Mae Nalley Lee; and siblings, Ira Vernon Lee, Ralph James "RJ" Lee, Virginia Lucille Jones and Terry Gregory Lee. The Celebration of Life Service was conducted from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday evening, Aug. 28, at the Dixon Chapel, North Cleveland Church of God, Cleveland, Tenn. Dr. Steven J. Land and Dr. R. Lamar Vest will be officiating, assisted by Dr. Douglas Slocumb and Dr. Jimmy DuPree. The graveside service will be held at Chattanooga National Cemetery, 10 a.m. Friday morning, Aug. 29. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to the Robert and Jeanette Crick Hall of Prophet Endowed Scholarship with the Pentecostal Theological Seminary, Cleveland, Tenn.. The North Ocoee Chapel of Jim Rush Funeral homes has charge of arrangements. We encourage you to share your memories and condolences with the Crick family by visiting www.jimrushfuneralhomes.com.