Sally Ann (Smith) Crist, 85, died on January 7, 2025.
She was born on February 28, 1939, in Roaring Springs, PA, the daughter of the late Douglas W. Smith and Sara ‘Sis’ (Shaffer) Smith.
Sally graduated from Gettysburg Area Senior High School in 1957, along with her childhood sweetheart and future husband, Jack Crist, with whom she was voted ‘Cutest Couple’ in the class candid’s.
She was one of only a few young women in her high school class to attend college, graduating from Shippensburg University (then Shippensburg State Teachers College) in 1961 with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She later returned to Shippensburg University to complete her master’s degree in Education.
Sally devoted 38 years to a professional career in public education, most of it as a Kindergarten teacher at Keefauver and James Gettys Elementary Schools, warmly welcoming nearly two generations of Gettysburg children to their first experience in the classroom.
Sally and Jack were married in 1962, and enjoyed more than 62 years together as husband and wife. She and Jack raised two children, Doug and Jenny, while Sally taught full time, and stayed involved with her church and community.
Sally volunteered for years with the Adams County Literacy Council, helping non-native speakers to better master English, and she was a pillar within her church, St. James Evangelical Lutheran, where she served many years on the Social Ministry and Christian Education committees, and sang on her beloved St. James Choir.
Sally was an avid reader, enjoyed flowers and birds, had a fun sense of humor, and took great pride and joy in her immediate and extended family.
She provided a model of commitment, unwavering love, and moral clarity for her entire family.
She is survived by her husband, John ‘Jack’ Crist; her son, Doug Crist, and his wife Amy of Gettysburg; her daughter, Jenny Vanasse, and her husband Jon of Reading, Massachusetts. She is also survived by her four grandchildren – Carolyn Vanasse, Ben Vanasse, Marrin Crist, and Lucy Crist.
Additionally, she is survived by her sister Janet Berkey, and her husband Bob, of Gettysburg; her brother Jay Smith and his wife Daryl, of James Creek, PA; her brother-in-law, Dick Crist, and his wife Barb of Wyomissing, PA; and her sister-in-law, Sally George, and her husband Ron of Alexandria, VA, and Tom Crist and his wife Erika of Gettysburg, PA.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her sister, Kay Little, whose husband Earl Little lives in Davenport, Florida; and her brother-in-law, Tom, whose wife Erika lives in Gettysburg.
She will be deeply missed by her family, including her many cousins and in-laws, nieces and nephews, and friends.
Funeral services will be held Saturday. January 25, 2025 at 11 a.m. from St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church, 109 York St., Gettysburg with Rev Libby Baker-Mikesell officiating.
The family will receive friends at the church on Saturday, January 25th from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. There will be a reception immediately following the service at the church.
Arrangements are entrusted to Monahan Funeral Home.
The family would like to express sincere thanks to the entire staff at Gettysburg Spiritrust Lutheran and Spiritrust Hospice, for the exceptional care that Sally received over the past three months.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Sally’s memory to SCCAP(South Central Community Action Program), 153 North Stratton St., Gettysburg, PA, 17325.
