Obituary of Vivian Kerr Crosby

Kerr Crosby Mother Wife Sister Mimi Mentor Muse Vivian Kerr Crosby of Morgantown, passed away Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at the age of 74. Kerr was born in Fayetteville, West Virginia, September 1940, the daughter of William Andrew and Vivian Katherine (Mahan) Withrow. She attended St. Catherine's School in Richmond, Virginia, and Mary Baldwin College, before graduating from West Virginia University. While at WVU, she met Tom Crosby and they married. She taught school, lived in Germany, and over time became one of Morgantown's most valuable resources. In 1988, Kerr joined the WVU Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, where she served as the Department Conference Coordinator, the Addiction Institute Training coordinator, and she oversaw credentialing for all staff, faculty and residents. She served as a Senior Administrator to the Chair of the department for more than 26 years. She retired last summer. Committed to culture in all its forms, Kerr was an early supporter of the Monongalia Arts Center, a board member of the WV Botanic Garden, and she chaired the Bicentennial Celebration in Morgantown. She was a Master Gardener in every sense, and worked to institute the hanging baskets along High Street. Appreciation of beauty was an innate part of her. Friends and family remember Kerr as something very special. An energetic, fun loving person who threw her whole energy into everything to which she committed. Asking Kerr for help was no small endeavor to her. She simply relished helping others succeed and flourish. She would research and learn, dedicating herself until her goals were met. She was a permanent fixture at everyone's dinner tables, where her joy and laughter were a delight to behold. Her smile and joie de vie were her calling cards. Kerr is survived by her children, Ethan and his wife Kate; and Katherine and her husband Eric Chaffin; two grandchildren, Evin and Mira Chaffin; her brothers Charles Mahood and Wade Mahood; her brothers-in-law Roger Crosby and Ed Lindner, and nieces Crosby Lindner and Erin Ann Phillips. She is also survived by her doberman, Drake, her constant companion, whom she called a short-haired body warmer. She was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Dr. Thomas William Crosby and her parents. The family appreciate the excellent love and care of everyone, especially Mary Ellen Craig, and the physicians and staff at Monongalia General and Ruby Memorial Hospitals, Madison Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and the caregivers from Right at Home. Friends will be received at Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce Street, Morgantown, from 4:00-8:00 pm on Friday, May 29 and again from 10:00-11:00 am on Saturday, May 30. A memorial service will be held at the funeral home at 11:00 am. Inurnment will take place at Oak Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in the name of Kerr Crosby to the Chaffin Luhana Foundation, www.ChaffinLuhanaFoundation.org, Chaffin Luhana, 600 Third Avenue, 12th Floor, NY, NY 10016. Facebook hosts the Vivian Kerr Crosby Memorial page where visitors are encouraged to post their memories and photos. Online condolences may also be sent to www.hastingsfuneralhome.com.