Kathyrn Crockard

Kathryn Taylor Crockard, 89, of Uvalde, Texas, passed away on Sunday, May 10, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. She was born July 9, 1936, in Rocksprings, Texas, to Joseph and Dorothy Elizabeth Taylor. Though her birth certificate, thanks to a doctor's sloppy handwriting, insisted her date of birth was July 7th – it was a mix-up that became a running, family joke for years.

Kathryn spent her early years in Rocksprings with her sister, Dorothy Jo until they moved to Uvalde. From an early age she was, by her own admission, a bit of a rascal. Around age 8, she and a cousin decided the kitchen chimney needed cleaning and figured a garden hose was just the tool for the job. They threaded the hose through the chimney and every bit of soot and mud shot straight into the house. She played basketball and softball before being selected as a drum majorette, which was a real honor. This put her talent as a baton twirler and her ability to lead, front and center the last two years of high school. She started playing drums in the 4th grade and kept it up through 12th grade, which explains the musical talent that runs through the family.

After graduating from Uvalde High School in 1954, Kathryn earned an academic scholarship to Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, where she studied to become a lab technician. While there, she picked up the bass clarinet and played in the college band. On summer break she went on a blind date to the movies and met the love of her life, Ward Orman Crockard. They were married in Uvalde on June 8, 1957.

Together they welcomed sons Ralph Taylor in 1959 and Colin Coy in 1963. Kathryn went back to school to become a teacher and began her career in 1972 with the Uvalde Independent School District, where she taught 2nd and 3rd grade before moving into computer science and eventually special education.

She was beloved in the classroom - her former students still talk about her fondly to this day. In 1978, she and Ward welcomed their third child, Coby Craig. She continued teaching until her retirement in 1991.

Kathryn was an amazing cook. Her dish, simply called "Stuff," was a family favorite and all her boys referenced it! She was a devoted cat mom, tended to her collection of house plants, and watched sports regularly, but nothing compared to her love of the San Antonio Spurs! She kept her mind sharp, texting her son Coby every day with moon phase updates, daily trivia, riddles, and a whole lot of alliterative wordplay. It was her way of staying connected and making the people around her feel loved.

She and Ward were longtime members of Uvalde Methodist Church, where faith was simply part of how they lived.

She was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Dorothy Taylor, her husband Ward Crockard, her sister Dorothy Jo Stotts, and her son Colin Coy Crockard. She is survived by her sons Ralph Taylor and Coby Craig, her grandchildren Hendrix Eagle and Cristin Nicole, and 3 great-grandchildren Sage Henson, Zayven Henson, and A’Mya Harris, and 7 great-great grandchildren

A visitation and memorial service will be held Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 2 p.m. followed by a private graveside service for close family. A light reception will follow back at the Uvalde Methodist Church. Pallbearers will include: Lynn Stotts, Daymon Stotts Jr., Charlie Mendeke, Clinton Luce, Roy Routh, & Hendrix Crockard.