Clare Colestock

On June 18th, 2025 Clare “Ky” Crumay Colestock, gracefully left the world more beautiful than she found it. Her gentle and kind ways touched everyone that she met. Ky’s magnificent works of art are a legacy of her brilliance. She taught us to embrace animals as family, there are no mistakes in art and to slow down to experience the simple joys and beauty all around us. She was witty, surprisingly sassy, and lived as fully as possible each day.

Ky was born on September 10, 1940 in Mercer, PA to Hugh and Connie Crumay. She attended Mount Union College for 3 years and then completed training to become a Medical Technician. She married her best friend and the love of her life Tom Colestock on August 8, 1964. Their 61 years of marriage included travel, gardening, local and international volunteerism, building strong family relationships, and standing up for their beliefs in social justice. Ky was an accomplished artist working with a wide range of mediums – watercolor and oil painting, woodworking, glass lampwork and fusion, silversmithing, jewelry making, clay work and pottery, sewing, and cooking.

Though she never was one to seek out the spotlight, her quiet strength, resilience and unconditional love have left a lasting impression on everyone who knew her. She transformed life into art and love into legacy. She leaves behind her husband Tom Colestock, brother Mike Crumay (Diana), daughters Jill Gromen, Julie Willett, Dana Colestock and cherished son-in-laws Tim Gromen and Chris Willett. Ky was enormously proud of her 5 grandsons – Ian Gromen, Alec Gromen, Bryce Willett, Evan Gromen, and Collin Willett.

Her absence has gone through us like thread through a needle, and everything we do is stitched with her colors.

A celebration of life will be held in the fall. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to the Carlisle Arts Learning Center at https://www.carlislearts.org or the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area at https://www.humansocietyhbg.org.