Christine M. Crawford (Matis), 71, of Florence, AZ, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2025, with her family surrounding her in love. Christine, born on January 10, 1954, in Allentown, PA, devoted herself to being a loving mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. Her warmth, kindness, and unwavering strength left a lasting imprint on everyone who knew her. She embraced life with a generous heart, always offering love, support, and a listening ear to those around her. Chris’s coworkers lovingly described her as a “teddy bear” who carried both confidence and compassion into the halls of the Special Education Services of Alaska (SESA). She had a fierce dedication to ensuring her “kids” received the best education possible, balancing her unwavering advocacy with a heart full of love. To Chris, these children weren’t just students—they were family. Her deep understanding of special education, combined with her creativity in adapting lesson plans, empowered Alaska’s teachers to open doors of opportunity for every child, ensuring that Alaska’s education system left no child behind, regardless of their needs. She found joy in life’s simple and beautiful moments—treasuring time with loved ones, capturing memories through photography, and expressing her creativity through scrapbooking. Her deep love for animals shone through in the special bond she created with her cherished adopted Dachshunds. Through comforting words, heartfelt laughter, and gentle acts of kindness, she touched countless lives with her compassionate spirit. Her loving partner, Barbara Boring, her devoted son, Joseph Crawford, and her four adored grandchildren, Azure Felix Grubbs-Crawford, Irie Anna Grubbs-Crawford, Owlsley Quannah Crawford, and Orion Crawford, continue to carry her love forward. Her dear brother, Joseph J. Matis III of Fairborn, OH, along with many cousins, nieces, nephews, and treasured friends, also survive her. Christine reunites in eternal peace with her parents, Joseph J. Matis and Cecelia Piskanin-Matis, her favorite aunt, Anna M. Onkotz (Tetsi) and her cherished sister, Eileen Matis-Wong. Her family will announce a celebration of Christine’s life at a later date. Instead of flowers, they encourage donations in her honor to Happy Tails Dachshund Rescue (https://happytailsdr.com/), a cause she deeply cherished. Though Christine no longer walks beside us, her love, light, and the beautiful memories she created will forever live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.