Crystal Lynn Flamer-Garrison

Crystal Lynn Flamer-Garrison, ”Cree” as she was affectionately called, was born January 8, 1961 in Carbondale, Illinois to John and Mary (Holder) Flamer. She was the first born of 9 children. God called Mother gently home on December 16, 2024.

Crystal was the oldest of 9 children, she had 3 sisters and 5 brothers. Her early years were spent in Carbondale Illinois until her family moved to Edwardsville Illinois at the age of 6. Shortly after graduating Edwardsville High School, Crystal married Reginald Garrison in October 1979 and to that union three children were born: Jennifer, Jessica and Bianca Garrison. Her family lived in various military towns across the country during their early years, until Crystal eventually settled in St. Louis, Missouri. Crystal started her career as a manager at Shoe Carnival and then worked various jobs along the way, where she was passionate about providing service to those in need at facilities, such as Edwardsville Middle School, Rosewood Care Center, Capri Sun Factory, Home Health/Group Homes, and at the Veterans Home in St. Louis.

Crystal will always be remembered as being a one-of-a-kind individual. She was passionate about helping others and always made people feel special. She was an aficionado of old movies and could always be counted on to provide actors’ names, the movies they appeared in and their awards.

Crystal is survived by her life-partner Jerome Locke; her daughters: Jennifer Garrison, Jessica Garrison (Sharron Mitchell) and Bianca Garrison; her step-daughter Tamecca Garrison; her grandchildren: Xavian Fuller, Moriyah Garrison-Clark, Lyric Adigwu, Dasean Silas, Aniya Brooks, Travis “Isaiah” Wooley, Mykkah Garrison-Stevenson, Mila Taylor, Milani Taylor and Remi Mitchell; her great-granddaughter Brailynne Brooks; her step-great-grandson Ma’Kai Neal; her father, John Flamer Jr.; her maternal aunt, Judy Smith (Holder); her maternal uncles: Tommy Holder and Sherwin Thomas; her paternal aunts: Florence Clay and Vera Diane Chesney (Audie); her paternal uncles: Josephy Tyrone Moore (Marilyn) and Mark Cepeda; her siblings, Dawn Flamer-Parks (Tony), Melanie Armstead-Williams (Walter), Todd Flamer (Kelly), Theodore “Ted” Flamer, Timothy Flamer, Tamiko King (Kevin) and Christopher Flamer (Lisa); her nephews and nieces: Stephen Pifer, Melissa Armstead, Miranda Cole, Meredith Parks, Ashley Flamer, Byron Armstead Jr., Anthony Flamer, Christopher McDaniel, Todd Flamer, Jr. and Christeon Flamer; her great nephews and nieces: Cameron, Jayden and Elijah Cole; Jameson, Vincent and Louis Pifer; Adrian Armstead; Nadia Flamer and Naomi King; Aiden, Ivori and Oliver Armstead; Mia McDaniel; and Taeo Flamer; and her ex-husband, Reginald Garrison.

Crystal is preceded in death by her grandmothers: Juanita Thomas (Reliford) and Florence Cepeda (Waters); her grandfathers: Tommy Holder and John Flamer; her mother, Mary Flamer (Holder); her brother, John Flamer III; her aunt Carol Waters; and her uncles: Ishmael “Toddy” Cepeda and Paul Waters.

Graveside service entrusted to Southern Cremation and Burial Services of Murphysboro, Illinois