Brenda Frances McCurry Crowe, 70, of Princeton, passed away on July 5, 2025, at Memory Care at Bristol, following a long battle with dementia. She was unfairly dealt a horrible disease, and her family celebrates her moments of true life!

Born February 23, 1955, Brenda was the daughter of the late Hugh Graham McCurry & Marorie Moorefield McCurry of Kingsport, TN. She grew up in Kingsport as the oldest of four siblings. She was a 1973 graduate of Ketron High School and received her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Berea College in 1977. Brenda met the love of her life, Kenneth Crowe, of Cowen, WV while volunteering at a WV church workcamp in college. Their first date was a square dance; they later married after Brenda graduated, and settled in Princeton in 1986 to raise their two children. Professionally, Brenda worked as a special education and music teacher, and later returned to school and became a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), caring for patients in dialysis clinics, nursing homes, and hospital settings until 2010.

Early in her life, Brenda developed a deep love for singing and playing the piano. Known for having a beautiful soprano voice, music took Brenda abroad to Austria with her high school choir, around Southern Appalachia in college with the gospel group New Life Singers, and around the local Princeton region with the six-member ensemble Voices of New Hope. She was a member of New Hope United Methodist Church and served as choir co-director. She also sang and played piano for multiple church services, weddings, and funerals throughout the area. Brenda led others to discover purpose in music, simply by living hers. While her illness kept her from combining her two loves of nursing and music professionally, it didn't keep her from using music to help people.

Brenda will be remembered for her kind heart, her deep commitment to family, and her faith. When Brenda asked others how they were doing, she truly wanted to know. She enjoyed "just being" with loved ones. She found joy in working with flowers, stumbling upon a good yard sale, and eating popcorn and vanilla ice cream.

In addition to her parents, Brenda was preceded in death by grandparents Roy & Bonnie McCurry and Joseph "Bill" & Julia Moorefield; father-in-law Kenneth Crowe, Sr; and grandson Eli Kenneth Hedrick.

Brenda is survived by Kenneth, her devoted husband of nearly 48 years; son K.R. Crowe (Cristal) of Bluefield, WV and daughter Jennifer Hedrick (Kory) of Charlotte, NC; grandchildren Bonnie Cochran (Brandon), Abigail Vaught, Tabor Crowe, Leah Hedrick, and Ian Hedrick; great-grandchildren Penelope, Rori, and Maeven; siblings Joe McCurry (Saundra), James McCurry, and Miriam English (Tommy); mother-in-law Patricia Crowe; brother-in-law Gil Crowe (Peggy); and multiple loved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Brenda also considered the congregation at New Hope as part of her extended family.

Brenda's family would like to thank the staff at Memory Care at Bristol for their excellent care and compassion to Brenda while she was a resident.

Brenda was immensely loved and will be missed; may she fly high and sing.

Services to celebrate the life of Brenda Crowe will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 11, 2025, at New Hope United Methodist Church at 4225 New Hope Road in Princeton with the Rev. Marva Smearman officiating. Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton. Friends may visit with the family on Friday from 12:00 p.m. until the service hour at the church.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a memorial contribution are asked to consider the following:

1)      Berea College, Music Department - Gifts may be made online at https://www.berea.edu/giving  Please be sure to note that your gift is in memory of Brenda, and is to be directed to the music department. A second option is to give by check made out to Berea College - the memo line should indicate "In memory of Brenda McCurry Crowe; and "to" or "for" the music department. Checks may be mailed to:

Berea College, ATTN: Alumni Office, PO Box 1855, Berea, KY 40403

For questions about your gift, please call Alysia Mora, Alumni Philanthropy Coordinator, Office of Alumni Relations, Berea College, 859-985-3104

2)      New Hope United Methodist Church - contributions may be mailed to:

New Hope UMC, 4225 New Hope Road, Princeton, WV 24739