Katherine Jane Crittendon

Katherine Jane Crittendon was born November 9, 1927, in Marfa, Texas. She passed from this life on Sunday, January 26, 2025, at age 97. She is the daughter and second child of John Moore and Mozelle Jones Moore. Jane, as she is known to her family and friends, was a wife, mother, rancher, teacher and very active member of her community.

Jane grew up on the John Moore Ranch outside of the community of Valentine, Texas, until as a teenager she moved to Austin where she graduated from high school and the University of Texas. After graduating with a degree in education, she began her teaching career in the elementary school on White Sands Army Proving Grounds outside of Las Cruces, New Mexico. During this time, she and her sister Sue Jean enjoyed time on their father’s ranch outside of Winston, NM and Jane even earned her private pilot’s license, which enabled her to make a cross-country flight to San Diego! It was at White Sands that Jane met her future husband Lynn H Crittendon, an ordinance officer onboard the post. They enjoyed dates in Las Cruces, El Paso and Juarez until Crit (as he is known to family and friends) received orders to Germany where he spent a year. Upon his return and discharge from the Army, Jane and Crit were married in Marfa, Texas on September 21, 1954, and enjoyed a wonderful honeymoon in Las Vegas.

After their honeymoon, the newlyweds moved to Duncan, Oklahoma where Crit began his work as a Petroleum Geologist with Halliburton. After training, Crit was assigned to Houston, Texas where they would welcome their first child in November of 1956. About a year later Crit would leave Halliburton and they would take over the family ranch in 1957. The couple would welcome their second son in September of 1962. Jane would eventually buy the ranch, and the couple would run the Moore Ranch into their mid-90s. Not long after leaving the ranch the couple would celebrate their 70th anniversary!

Jane would not only partner with Crit in running the home ranch and a number of grazing leases over the years, but she would work as school district’s tax collector for a couple of years, she would teach in Valentine Elementary School, she would serve as school board member and president of the board, and she would serve as a Federal Land Bank board member. She was also involved in many volunteer activities including the Kids and Kows education program in El Paso.

Jane and Crit enjoyed travel and would get away at least once a year to enjoy the mountains of New Mexico, Colorado and Nevada. Jane also enjoyed a number of special trips with her mother and sisters to places such as Hawaii. She lived a full, active and exciting life.

Jane was preceded in death by her parents, John Moore and Mozelle Moore and her sisters Colleen and Patricia. She is survived by her husband Crit, her sisters Gail and Sue Jean, her sons Bryan (wife Sherri) and Arthur (wife Angela), grandchildren Carl, William, Anna and Dustin and great-grandchildren Harley, Bowen, Candace, Austin and Jack.

The Memorial Service will be at 10:30 A.M., Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Valentine Community Church in Valentine, TX.

Family and friends may share condolences and sign the online register book at www.harper-funeralhome.com