Colleen Campbell Criss' Obituary
Colleen Campbell Criss, 87, was born in Tacoma on April 28, 1936 and died in Des Moines, Washington on November 28, 2023.
Colleen was a third generation lifelong resident of Washington state. Both Colleen and her husband, Keith, were educators in the Highline School District. She proudly taught fifth grade for over 35 years at Des Moines Elementary. She loved music and sang in the Central Singers at Central Washington University in Ellensburg as well as the church choir at Southminster Presbyterian. Her other great passions in life were traveling and photography. She saw every stranger as a potential friend with stories to tell. She loved photographing her adventures. One of her photos won a People’s Choice award at the Burien Arts Festival.
Colleen is survived by her brother, Douglas Campbell, children, Douglas Criss, Maureen Criss, Laurie Richardson and grandchildren Caitlin, Austin, Blake, Cameron, Chloe, great-grandchild Hailey, and beloved Campbell cousins. She joins her angelic husband in heaven, Keith Criss, who passed June 30, 2000.
The family would like to thank Colleen’s many friends, pastor Ken Onstot, and her church community, for visiting, assisting her, and providing comfort, especially in these last few months. “To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.” Thomas Campbell.
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