Tootsie Gayle Crick, lifelong resident of Kansas City, Missouri, died on Monday, November 10 with her dear Australian Shepherd, Holly, sitting sentinel by her side.
Tootsie Gayle was born October 22, 1948 and grew up a fervent child of the 60’s. She protested injustice, sat-in, and stood up for what she believed was right. She loved people and did not know prejudice.
She was a voracious reader. As a child, she read the Kansas City Times and Star newspapers. While in high school, at Barstow, she subscribed to The Village Voice. She was a true autodidact and was informed about many topics, those she didn’t know she was curious about.
She loved fashion and design, had an eye and talent for art, and attended the Kansas City Art Institute. Intrigued by science, she went to nursing school and became an RN.
She loved the family business, Crick Camera Shop, in part because it kept alive the memory of her father who died in 1961 and her brother, Stuart who died in 1984. She was preceded in death by her mother, Thelma Sunderland, and step-father, Paul Sunderland.
She loved politics, philosophy and Buddhism, rock & roll, and the blues. She loved B-17 airplanes, and felt certain she had a past life experience in one.
She was passionate, strong-willed and witty, and felt all aspects of life and death deeply. She was gregarious and eccentric. Friends, acquaintances, and strangers enjoyed and were entertained by her. During her life she had and loved many dear friends. Please try and remember the fun you once had with her.
And, she loved her sister, Dana Crick, who stood by her in the end, through all of her struggles.
Her ashes will be spread in Door County, Wisconsin and at Circle A Ranch in the mountains outside Cuba, New Mexico. Both held a place in her heart.
Free at last Tootsie Gayle.
A gathering for friends will be scheduled at a later date.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Meals on Wheels, 8029 Overland Park Dr., Shawnee Mission, KS. 66204 or Wayside Waifs, 3901 Martha Truman Road, K.C., MO. 64137.
Tootsie will be missed. She shared her knowledge to the camera world in Kansas City. she had a great sense of humor. When I would go to Dana’s house during my childhood, I always thought Tootsie was so cool and fun to be around. I always wished I had a sister.
With love,
Sharon Fate
Dear Dana,
I am so sorry for your loss. I remember Tootsie as your very cool older sister when we were grade school playmates and always enjoyed catching up with you both at the shop through the years. I know what a blessing it is to have a sister and hope your lifetime of memories will sustain and comfort you. Alice
Dana…beautiful words! For those of us who might have not had the opportunity
to experience such a free spirit, we now have a better idea of what a special
life she lived. I am very glad I had a chance to meet her, and I remember how
we laughed together even in that short encounter.
Memories will keep Gayle with you always. Know that she is safe and surrounded by the greatest Love we can only imagine.
I will do my best to help Holly…you know that. I love you, Aunt Bonnie
Crick’s Camera Shop and the Crick family played a great part in my life when as a kid I changed a hobby into a business. Jack Denzer is sorry to see a great lady pass.
I know how much Gayle meant to Dana and I’m so sorry for the loss.
I dated Tootsie for about a year when a student at KCAI. Loved her. We shared a lot of good times, plenty of laughter and many memorable concerts. We both loved music, the Blues in particular. Her enthusiasm and joy during a show was always such a pleasure. So sorry to find this sad news. I know her friends and family will miss her.