Lona-Rae Chastain Crow, 72 years young, passed away at her home in Krum, Texas on Monday morning December 2, 2024, with her husband of forty-eight years, Toby Lee Crow, by her side after a decades long courageous struggle with lupus and other chronic illnesses which ravaged her body.

She was born in Miami, Florida to Randall and Raola Chastain on October 19, 1952. She was one of four children and attended public schools in Miami, then Okinawa, where her father was stationed for several years with the United States Air Force, before finishing her high school senior year in Anniston, Alabama. Lona-Rae was introduced to Jesus Christ through the Godly influences of a Sunday School teacher and her mother at the age of five. Later, she came to experience the Spirit-filled life that Jesus promised in John 10:10.

Lona-Rae started college courses at a satellite campus in Sumter, South Carolina where her father was stationed at Shaw Air Force Base. She finished her college education at Clemson University in Easley, South Carolina before graduating in 1975 with a degree in Psychology. While she was at Clemson she served as the women's leader of the student-led ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ where she was able to see God do many wonderful works. God led her to apply for full-time staff with Campus Crusade for Christ after graduating from college. She attended seminary courses at the Great Commission School of Theology on the campus of Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado during the summer of 1975. It was there she met her future husband and the love of her life, Toby, who had just graduated from Texas A&M University in College, Station, Texas where God also led him to apply for full-time staff with Campus Crusade for Christ. They met the first weekend of June 1975 while sharing the Good News about Jesus Christ door to door in Fort Collins, Colorado.

During their time at Fort Collins, Colorado she entered into a Godly relationship with Toby open to the possibility of something greater. Toby proposed to her a few months later at her father's house in Montgomery, Alabama. They were joined in Holy Matrimony in her home church, Crosswell Baptist Church, in Sumter, South Carolina on May 29, 1976, with her pastor, J. Yates Frady, officiating. After honeymooning in Florida, they set up residence in Sumter. God blessed them with a son, Joshua Scott Crow, in March 1977 before moving to Carrollton, Texas in 1978. God blessed them with a daughter, Amanda Elizabeth Michelle Crow, in August 1983 before moving to Krum, Texas on Thanksgiving Day November 1985.

They became members of First Baptist Church Krum under the shepherding of Pastor Carl Wesley Lane, Pastor Ed Gatlin, and current Pastor Jay Smith. She and Toby taught first grade Sunday School and were active in many other ministries while raising Joshua and Amanda in the church. She and Toby homeschooled their children. She was active in the Denton County Home School Association for several years. Lona-Rae loved God the Father, she loved Jesus Christ the Son, she loved the Holy Spirit. She loved her family. She loved her church. She loved her close friends Cindy Gamon, Cheryl Daugherty, and Julia Cranford. As a matter of fact, she loved everybody. She will be sorely missed.

She had several miscarriages over the years with one daughter, Melody Raelee Crow, being born on Monday, January 14, 1991, in Denton, Texas before returning to Jesus on Friday, January 18,1991, in Fort Worth, Texas at Cook Children's Medical Center. Lona-Rae was ready to meet Jesus face to face. She left this earth and entered directly into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. No more pain. No more suffering. No more tears. No more sorrow. A time of short sadness overcome with eternal great joy. She told Toby years ago after she arrived in Heaven, she wanted to enroll in the University of the Universe and explore the ice caves of Mars.

She is preceded in death by her father Randall, her mother Raola, her brothers David and Danny, her paternal and maternal grandparents, and her daughter Melody.

Lona-Rae is survived by her husband Toby, their son Joshua, wife Rene (and ten children) in Roanoke, Texas, their daughter Amanda Jordan, her husband Joshua (and three children) in Seguin, Texas, six great grandchildren, her sister Denise "DeeCee" Campbell, her husband Jamie in Cayce, South Carolina, and several cousins, including Jayme Facente, her husband Jimmy in Palm Coast, Florida, nieces, and nephews.

She told Toby years ago she wanted this phrase, "I told you I was sick", on her tombstone.

She will be laid to rest at Plainview Cemetery five miles west of Krum on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at 1:00 pm.

Everybody should know someone who knows Jesus. She's one of them.