WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Friends of long-time local resident Lisa Crumpley are hoping to honor her and her avid support of Grizzly Athletics at Missouri State University-West Plains by establishing an athletics scholarship in her name, and they are asking area residents to join them with donations to the fund.

Crumpley, who attended nearly every home Grizzly basketball game, volleyball match or athletic event, passed away July 17 at Ozarks Medical Center.  No local memorial service was held, so a group of her friends at Cornerstone Church of the Nazarene in West Plains, led by Angela Survillo, decided to take it upon themselves to do something to remember this “icon” of the community through a scholarship that would support one of her greatest passions.

“There wasn’t much done for her locally because her family didn’t realize she had so many friends here,” Survillo explained.  “Everyone who knew her knew she was very active in town, and those who really knew her liked her.  We just felt driven to do this for her.”

Born on April 9, 1962, in Springfield, Crumpley first came to West Plains in the mid-1970s when her father, Rex Crumpley, became the pastor at what is now Cornerstone Church of the Nazarene.  Although the family moved around a lot because of her father’s profession, Lisa always considered West Plains home.

After graduating high school in Arlington, Texas, she decided to move back to West Plains on her own and made this her life-long home.  She became a recognizable figure in the community and attended many activities, events, and even some classes at the university.

“She was feisty, but she was very active in the community and participated in many church and university functions,” Survillo recalled.  “She just loved it here and always wanted to be here and live here.”

“Lisa Crumpley was well known at Missouri State University-West Plains and in the community,” said Dr. Herb Lunday, the university’s dean of student services.  “She was a devoted Grizzly fan.  I knew Lisa well and admired her self-sufficiency in the face of circumstances that would have defeated others.  I will count it a personal honor to contribute to this scholarship.”

Area residents who would like to contribute to the Lisa Crumpley Grizzly Athletics Scholarship may do so by contacting the Missouri State-West Plains development office at 417-255-7240 or at WPDevelopment@MissouriState.edu.

For more information about ways to give to Missouri State-West Plains, visit wp.missouristate.edu/development.