Kristal Lane "Kris" Murray Dean
Kristal Lane "Kris" Murray Dean, of Mechanicsville, Virginia, and formerly of Clifton Forge and Eagle Rock, passed unexpectedly from complications following a routine surgical procedure, on Saturday morning, June 22, 2024 in Mechanicsville. She was 58.
Born June 7, 1966 in Clifton Forge, Kris was the baby of a large family. She grew up in the Clifton Forge Baptist Church and was educated in Clifton Forge Public Schools before graduating from James River High School in 1984. She loved learning and took many classes at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, and received her Bachelor degrees in English from Old Dominion University and Psychology from Mary Washington University. In her early adulthood, she enjoyed the time she spent as a Pizza Hut waitress and an announcer for WXCF Radio in Clifton Forge, as well as working at the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk, and coordinating benefits for children through the Head Start program in Richmond. She enjoyed watching others learn and was a substitute teacher for Hanover County Public Schools. Throughout her life, she never stopped learning. She excelled at drama, singing, art, stained glass, quilting, photography, baking and cooking, collecting, organizing family applebutter festivals, reading, researching family genealogy, and more recently, beekeeping and horticulture. Her bright, lively personality and grand sense of humor made her fun at the kitchen table for a shared meal, playing games, talking about life, and especially party recaps over a hot cup of coffee and a cold slab of one of her fabulous cakes. She drew people close and everyone in her circle felt fortunate to be there. She was both interested, and interesting, and reveled in the experience of the culture associated with wherever she was, be it in her old railroad hometown, during her many travels with Steve and the girls, or at home in Mechanicsville. She served her community well as a good neighbor, a volunteer at her local library, and as a substitute teacher. She was the best caregiver for all her family members in need and always showed up when she got the call. Kris immersed herself in a variety of passions throughout her life, which included being a very proud aunt and great friend, but her greatest passion of all was her beautiful family and the home they made together. She was a devoted, loving wife and the best mother. Steven, her husband of 30 years, and Lillian and Evelyn, their beautiful daughters that are so much like Kris, will carry her spirit onward in the many stories and memories they share, as well as in the lives they live. Also surviving Kris is her mother, Norma Morgan; siblings, Alice Murray, Jonathan Murray, and Kelly Slusser (Tommy); father- and mother-in-law, Phil and Lyvon Dean; two nephews and a niece, Evan Blatt (Carly), Rob Slusser, and Sylvie Slusser; adopted brother, Barry; nephew, Sage McPherson; many family members, most notably the West Virginia family that she loved to keep up with through social media, family reunions, and long phone calls with her "Ant" Nola; a very special family friend, Ryan Kopelman; and the friends she made throughout the years, including her neighbors and the wonderful members of the Lamb family. Kris will also be missed by the furry family that shared her home, Mavis, Molly, Poppy, Sylphrena, and baby Silas, and by her sweet, honey-making buddies in the back yard (and yes, Evie did let them know).
In keeping with Kris' express wish, her body was cremated and her life's work will live on in those that will always love her and honor her memory through championing worthy causes, celebrating successes, sharing recipes, reading good books, telling stories, caring for family, growing things, practicing good manners, and being kind.
A private time for the family to honor her will take place at a later date.
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In Remembrance
Service of Remembrance 2019
