News
Chrystal Joy Frazier
July 22, 1965 - July 3, 2020
Chrystal Joy Schmeltzer Frazier, born in Hillsboro, Oregon on July 22, 1965, passed away at her home in Oregon City on July 3, 2020, at the age of 54.
She grew up in the Mountain Home district of Sherwood, near Scholls, Oregon. When Chrystal was five years old, the Schmeltzer family home burned down. During the rebuilding of their house, Chrystal began her lifelong work with children by watching her younger siblings. Chrystal helped with farm work in blackcap fields, prune and walnut orchards, and picking berries at neighboring farms. Highly involved in music from a young age, Chrystal played the piano and flute in addition to singing in vocal groups of family ensembles, youth choirs, and school choirs. Her parents, Conrad and Janet, purchased a machine shop in St. Helens, Oregon in 1977, and the family moved to Scappoose, Oregon in the spring of 1978. Chrystal would help in the business by cleaning machines, sweeping, organizing, and answering phones. Occasionally, she and her siblings were rewarded with time to buckle themselves in the two-ton crane and swing!
Chrystal learned handwork in the form of sewing, crocheting, knitting, embroidery, and more in early childhood. Known for her ability to crochet without looking, she easily constructed over 100 little octopus toys from her own design. When seventeen, she and her sister learned tatting from her great aunt, Alice. From then on, if Chrystal was around, most likely her tatting or other handwork was close by.
Chrystal earned her CNA license while in high school and continued caring for the elderly for several years while in college. She attended Reedwood Friends Church in Portland, Oregon, and was highly involved in the youth group. Chrystal graduated from Scappoose High School in 1983 where she was in Honor Society, Spanish Club, band, dance team, cheerleading, and a member of both the acapella and jazz choirs.
In 1983, Chrystal enrolled at George Fox College where her CNA work influenced her to pursue a degree in medicine. However, Chrystal’s love for music grew as a member of both the New Vision Singers and the George Fox College Chorale. Ultimately, Chrystal graduated in 1988 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education.
While in college, Chrystal met David Charles Frazier, who also studied music education. The two married on July 6, 1985. After graduation, both Chrystal and Dave began teaching music, Chrystal in Yamhill-Carlton and Dave in Oregon City. Two years later, Chrystal accepted a music teaching job in Oregon City where she and Dave purchased their first home in 1992.
Chrystal and Dave had their first of three children, Nathan, in the early summer of 1995. Two years later, twins Alissa and Brian were born in the fall of 1997. In 1999, the family moved to their present home in Oregon City.
As Nathan entered Teacher Chery’s Circle of Friends Preschool, Chrystal was immediately drawn to the education of young children. She volunteered while her children were in attendance and soon after began teaching both the three and four-year-olds. Chrystal loved every minute of it. She particularly benefited from the expert training and mentoring of Teacher Chery Lewelling, the founder of Circle of Friends Preschool.
The next few years saw Chrystal spending a lot of time at swim practice as all three children excelled in the sport. Traveling around the Pacific Northwest for swim meets, Chrystal kept everyone together and on time, both literally and figuratively. On many days, Chrystal could be found by the pool, timing an event, tatting, or encouraging others nearby.
Circle of Friends expanded to First Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Oregon City. When Teacher Chery eventually retired in 2015, Chrystal stepped up to lead as Director. Chrystal commenced with putting her own stamp on the preschool’s instruction and organization, complementing the excellent course laid out by Teacher Chery. The preschool became another avenue where Chrystal shared her love for creativity, music, children, and God.
Chrystal enjoyed fusing all of her artistic skills, creating beautiful artwork to share. In 2013, she started doodling, which grew into 107 treasured rainbow-themed drawings. Chrystal arranged patterns to catch your interest. To her, they were simple doodles, but to others they were works of art. Her designs are featured on the web at happyletter.org.
In April of 2018, Chrystal was diagnosed with a cancer that was both difficult to diagnose and hard to treat. The next two years found Chrystal following doctor’s recommendations and suffering the effects of an aggressive cancer. Throughout treatment, Chrystal’s love and concern for others expanded to include the doctors and nurses who treated her. The spring of 2020 brought Chrystal home to hospice care. In this new world of COVID-19 pandemic procedures, her husband, Dave, was her primary caregiver. Throughout the journey, Chrystal maintained a positive attitude, regardless of all the tubes, medications, and indignities she suffered. She took short walks, entertained a few visitors, and lived as peacefully as possible considering the intensity of her care.
Chrystal passed away peacefully at 7:05 p.m. on Friday, July 3. She was surrounded by her husband Dave, sister Coreen, and daughter Alissa.
Chrystal is survived by her father, Conrad Charles Schmeltzer; mother, Janet Rose Schmeltzer; sister Coreen June Stanton; brother Joel Conrad Schmeltzer; husband David Charles Frazier; son Nathan Charles Frazier; daughter Alissa Rose Frazier; and son Brian Thomas Frazier.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the date and time for her memorial service are yet to be determined. Holman-Hankins-Bowker & Waud Funeral Service will take care of the arrangements. Per Chrystal’s request, she has been cremated, and her family will spread her ashes at Ocean Park, Washington, a favorite vacation spot for many years.
If you wish to make a donation in Chrystal’s honor, please consider donating to First Circle of Friends Preschool and Kindergarten, located at the First Evangelical Presbyterian Church on Linn Avenue in Oregon City.
DATE: May 2, 2023
TO: Clackamas County Schools and Child Care Facilities
FROM: Public Health Division, Immunization Program
RE: Immunization Rate Sharing
The purpose of this memo is to share Clackamas County immunization rates with you and to explain how to access your facility’s immunization rates. To calculate your site’s immunization rates, go to www.healthoregon.org/immdata. On this website, you can find your site’s rates.
Who shares?
Senate Bill 895, passed in 2015, requires that all schools and childcare facilities with 10 or more children publicly share their immunization and exemption rates.
You are required to share these rates twice a year:
ü Within 30 days after the start of school, and
ü Within 30 days after the February immunization exclusion day.
Where do you share?
You must share both the Clackamas County immunization rates and your facility rates in three ways:
1. On your school or children’s facility website or social media page,
2. In your main office, and
3. With parents, in electronic or paper format, such as an email, newsletter or mailed copy.
Do you need to share both graphs?
Ø If your school only has grades K-12, you only need to share the school-aged graph.
Ø If you only report on immunizations for children younger than school age, then you only need to share the graph for students younger than kindergarten.
Ø If you have both age groups, you need to share both graphs. For example, a site that has a preschool and a kindergarten will need to share both graphs.
If you have any questions regarding these requirements, please feel free to contact us at immunizations@clackamas.us
For more information about the Clackamas County Immunization Program visit:
https://www.clackamas.us/publichealth/immunizations.html