Ashley Crews

Ashley Rhea (Wells) Crews was born March 25, 1981, in Boise City, OK, to Paul and Sandy Wells. She was the first granddaughter of Gene and Reta Richardson and Kenneth and Lynn Wells.  Ashley’s early loves included trucks and tractors. She loved to ride the tractor with her dad, singing “She’ll Be Coming Around the Mountain When She Comes.” She loved to sing and was always singing. Participating in pageants gave her a chance to sing, which was her favorite part.

When Ash was 7 years old, Colter was born, and he was her baby to dress up, love on and pester. In later years, he was her business partner, grumpy brother, an uncle to her boys, and one of the people she wanted around her when she didn’t feel good. Ashley was a child when she completed confirmation, accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior, and was baptized. It was at this time that her faith and belief in God began to grow.

In high school she loved being a cheerleader and playing on the softball team. It was also in high school that she met the love of her life, Brock Crews. She followed Brock to Oklahoma State University in Stillwater and together they became die-hard OSU Cowboy fans.  In 2005, she graduated from OSU with her degree in Elementary Education.  Three months later she and Brock were married on July 9, 2005.  Their first residence together was in Wylie, Texas where Ashley began her teaching career by substituting across multiple elementary schools in the district. It was through her substitute teaching that she was able to secure a full-time position teaching fourth grade in 2006. Ashley had a knack for being innovative and creating curriculum that was interactive for her students. She used these techniques to create the best pathway of learning for each individual student.  Her talents got the attention of the district, generating an opportunity to teach gifted and talented students across multiple campuses.

In 2007, Ashley and Brock built a home outside of Royse City, TX and began attending Lake Pointe Baptist Church in Rockwall, TX.  It was there that Ashley and Brock formed friendships with multiple young couples.  Bronson Gene was born September 9, 2010.  It was at that time that Ashley andBrock decided that she would stay home and be a fulltime mom. Ashley was instrumental in helping to start Mom’s Run This Town.  Through this small organization, she began to make additional friends as it inspired her to start training and run marathons.

In 2012, Brock convinced Ashley to move to Edmond, OK so that he could pursue a new job opportunity in the Oklahoma City area. She hated to leave her friends in Texas, but soon realized there were more friendships to be made in Oklahoma. Sutton Thomas was born on April 15, 2013. Sometime after Sutton was born, Ashley started working part-time at the Christian Learning Center at Henderson Hills Baptist Church.

Ashley always had a gift for creating.  Whether it was clothes, paper crafts or home furnishings, watching her messy genius shine was a sight to behold.  After a few years of part time teaching, she really caught the design bug. She always loved décor and had an eye for design and decorating.  After some discussion and brainstorming, she and Colter decided that they could combine their talents and create a business rehabbing houses in Oklahoma City.  Ashley’s primary role was design and decorating, but she found herself involved in almost all phases. This partnership led to a sibling bond that was stronger than ever.

Ashley was drawn to water.  She had jobs both managing and working at city pools in both Boise City and Stillwater during her high school and college days.  She always placed a big emphasis on water when the family was making vacation plans.  Whether it was a nice pool, a mountain stream, a crystal-clearlake or an ocean, Ashley always found the water very therapeutic.

In June 2021, Ashley was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer and her battle began. She stood strong throughout and was supported by her family and many friends. A lot of life was lived in those months and years.  It was during this time that the kids began being even more involved in sports and school activities.  She was the master schedule maker and keeper of her family calendar.  Whether she was scheduling doctor’s appointments, chemo treatments, or her boys’ school and sports activities, she kept them all on track.  She loved watching Bronson play baseball, run cross country and track and watching Sutton play football and baseball. They were her pride and joy.  Sports gave her and the family an escape from all the horrible realities of cancer.

Ashley formed close bonds with many of the nurses that helped and treated her over the many months.  Many times she commented that she hated having to go to the cancer center but she loved the people.  Despite how tough they could be, Ashley and Brock made the most of their “chemo dates” and tried to keep things lighthearted.

In 2023, when it appeared that her cancer was being kept at bay, Ashley started a home staging business.  This side hustle allowed her, again, to scratch the creativity itch.  Her family helped move and place furniture, but Ashley remained the creative driving force until the very end.

Brock has said, “The reason we were perfect for each other is because we had hugely different personalities but came from the same foundation.”  Brock and Ashley stood strong together and lived out the scripture found in Romans 12:12 which is “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”  It was evident that they placed all hope in God, and lived a life pleasing to Him even in the hardest of days. Their belief and faith in God has been inspiring to each and every person that has followed them on this journey.

In one sentence, Ashley could have been described as a creative, messy genius that loved God, Brock, her boys, and OSU. 

Ashley was preceded in death by Reta Richardson (Grandma), Gene Richardson (Grandpa), Lt. Col. Rod Richardson (Uncle Rod), Lynn Wells (Gran) and Mark Wells (Uncle Mark).

She survived by her husband Brock of Edmond, Oklahoma, Two sons: Bronson Gene Crews and Sutton Thomas Crews of Edmond Oklahoma, parents: Paul and Sandy Wells of Boise City, Oklahoma, one brother Colter Wells and fiance Mikayla Medford of Cashion, Oklahoma. One half-brother Derrek Wells of Stratford, Texas.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. till 4:00 p.m. Sunday, April 7, 2024 at Henson-Novak Funeral Home in Boise City.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 8, 2024 at First Baptist Church in Boise City with Interment to follow at Willowbar Cemetery.

The family would request that anyone considering a donation of any kind consider this Oklahoma based foundation that supports women fighting cancer.

https://ruralgoneurban.org/donate. 

Donations can be made online or via check. 

Memorial contributions will also be accepted by the funeral home.

                    *ADDITIONAL SERVICES*

Memorial Services for Ashley Crews will be held Friday, April 12th, 6:00 p.m. at Henderson Hills Baptist Church Worship Center located at 1200 E I-35 Frontage Rd, Edmond, OK. 73034.

friends and family may sign the online guest book or leave an online condolence.

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