1920
Chrystal
2010
Chrystal Durham
August 1, 1920 — March 17, 2010
Chrystal Elise Durham
Harlingen, TX:
Chrystal Elise Durham, 89, peacefully left this world and entered into her Heavenly home on March 17, 2010. She rejoined her soul mate and life companion Marshall who preceded her to their Heavenly home.
She was born on August 1, 1920 in Dayton, TX to William Thomas and Leatrice Loduska Smith.
Chrystal was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She graduated from Baylor University on June 2, 1941. After graduation Mr. C.E. Vail, La Feria, gave Chrystal her first job teaching at La Feria High School. With her suitcase in hand, she rode the bus down to La Feria. This began a wonderful teaching career that lasted for 32 years.
Chrystal attended the First Baptist Church in La Feria, TX. A young, Navy sailor named Marshall Durham noticed Chrystal singing in the church choir and insisted that he meet her. They met, fell in love, and married a short time later. Marshall and Chrystal had a loving marriage of 64 years filled with a great family, many adventures, and lifelong friends.
Marshall became a Baptist minister and later a missionary with the Baptist Home Mission Board. Chrystal supported Marshall through every step of the way and together they served the Lord side by side. Marshall would pastor a church, and Chrystal would always play the piano without hesitation because of her love for music. They were called to serve in Panama with the home Mission Board and lived there for 10 years. While in Panama, Chrystal taught school in Balboa, Canal Zone.
After Panama, they moved backed to Harlingen, TX. Chrystal was not only a talented pianist but also a talented artist. She enjoyed oil and pastel painting. Some of her favorite hobbies were traveling, reading, painting, and playing the piano. One of the family’s fondest memories of Chrystal was walking up to her front door, seeing her sitting at her piano and hearing her beautiful music, which always filled the air. The legacy Chrystal left to all of us was her loyalty and love to her family and friends.
Chrystal was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Janis Elise, her loving husband, C. Marshall Durham and her brother, Kelso Thomas Smith.
She is survived by her daughter, Marsha (Calvin) Zamzow; son James T. (Sondra) Durham; grandchildren, Kathryn (Troy) Eckard, Donny (Tracey) Hambly, Phillip (Wendy) Zamzow, Laura Zamzow, and Elizabeth (Taylor) Davis; great grandchildren, Crystal, Brooke, Trevor, Paige, Hayden, Timber and Parker; brother, George Allen Smith; nieces Lea (Ramin) Nosrat, and Tina (Tom) Johnson; great nieces and nephew, Michelle, Maria, Trevor, and Tracie.
Visitation will be held on Friday, March 19, 2010 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
Graveside service will be held on Saturday, March 20, 2010, 11 a.m., at La Feria Cemetery with Rev. Chris Hall officiating.
Chrystal’s family wishes to express a sincere appreciation and immense gratitude to the staff at Angel Care Acres, Palm Blvd. The staff loved Chrystal as their own mother and was always be her side. The family also wishes to thank Cima Hospice for their tender care of Chrystal.
Harlingen, TX:
Chrystal Elise Durham, 89, peacefully left this world and entered into her Heavenly home on March 17, 2010. She rejoined her soul mate and life companion Marshall who preceded her to their Heavenly home.
She was born on August 1, 1920 in Dayton, TX to William Thomas and Leatrice Loduska Smith.
Chrystal was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend. She graduated from Baylor University on June 2, 1941. After graduation Mr. C.E. Vail, La Feria, gave Chrystal her first job teaching at La Feria High School. With her suitcase in hand, she rode the bus down to La Feria. This began a wonderful teaching career that lasted for 32 years.
Chrystal attended the First Baptist Church in La Feria, TX. A young, Navy sailor named Marshall Durham noticed Chrystal singing in the church choir and insisted that he meet her. They met, fell in love, and married a short time later. Marshall and Chrystal had a loving marriage of 64 years filled with a great family, many adventures, and lifelong friends.
Marshall became a Baptist minister and later a missionary with the Baptist Home Mission Board. Chrystal supported Marshall through every step of the way and together they served the Lord side by side. Marshall would pastor a church, and Chrystal would always play the piano without hesitation because of her love for music. They were called to serve in Panama with the home Mission Board and lived there for 10 years. While in Panama, Chrystal taught school in Balboa, Canal Zone.
After Panama, they moved backed to Harlingen, TX. Chrystal was not only a talented pianist but also a talented artist. She enjoyed oil and pastel painting. Some of her favorite hobbies were traveling, reading, painting, and playing the piano. One of the family’s fondest memories of Chrystal was walking up to her front door, seeing her sitting at her piano and hearing her beautiful music, which always filled the air. The legacy Chrystal left to all of us was her loyalty and love to her family and friends.
Chrystal was preceded in death by her infant daughter, Janis Elise, her loving husband, C. Marshall Durham and her brother, Kelso Thomas Smith.
She is survived by her daughter, Marsha (Calvin) Zamzow; son James T. (Sondra) Durham; grandchildren, Kathryn (Troy) Eckard, Donny (Tracey) Hambly, Phillip (Wendy) Zamzow, Laura Zamzow, and Elizabeth (Taylor) Davis; great grandchildren, Crystal, Brooke, Trevor, Paige, Hayden, Timber and Parker; brother, George Allen Smith; nieces Lea (Ramin) Nosrat, and Tina (Tom) Johnson; great nieces and nephew, Michelle, Maria, Trevor, and Tracie.
Visitation will be held on Friday, March 19, 2010 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
Graveside service will be held on Saturday, March 20, 2010, 11 a.m., at La Feria Cemetery with Rev. Chris Hall officiating.
Chrystal’s family wishes to express a sincere appreciation and immense gratitude to the staff at Angel Care Acres, Palm Blvd. The staff loved Chrystal as their own mother and was always be her side. The family also wishes to thank Cima Hospice for their tender care of Chrystal.
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