It is with profound sorrow and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved daughter, sister, mother and friend. Crystal passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of April 8th, 2026, at the age of 50, following a tenacious battle with cancer. She leaves behind a loving family who will forever cherish her memory: her beautiful daughter Miranda and son, Jaron, their father Clayton Williamson, her mother Karyn Nelson and father, Dennis Wilkinson, her sister Melissa Hay and her nieces Presley and Savannah, her brother Chad Wilkinson, her loving aunts, uncles and cousins, as well as her two beloved horses Merlin and Louis.

Crystal was raised in Elko BC. She attended elementary school in Elko and Jaffray, until high school in Fernie, where she graduated in 1993. Crystal was passionate and talented in sports and played on the volleyball and basketball teams, but she also rock climbed, mountain biked, skied and snowboarded, hiked, ran and competed in barrel racing. Her truest passion was barrel racing and Crystal got her first horse, Thumper, at the age of 5. From that age on she grew to become a true, pure-hearted cowgirl. She had a strong love of animals and nature and worked hard at every job she had, including as a river rafting guide. She was determined and dedicated to excellence in everything she did. She loved to travel; back-packing Europe with her sister, surfing and hiking Hawaii with her brother, and riding her horses in Arizona with her children and partner often in the winters.

In 2002, Crystal began school at the Okanagan School of Massage Therapy and became an exceptional healing massage therapist. She owned and operated a highly successful business in Okotoks, Alberta called Ascent Wellness. Crystal bought and renovated her own house there and eventually built a clinic, with a little help from a professional carpenter, on her property. Crystal had many skills and her therapeutic hands helped give healing and pain relief to many people over the years. She held a steadfast belief in the power of natural healing. She continued giving massage therapy after the births of her daughter Miranda in 2015, and son Jaron in 2017.

In 2019, Crystal and her family and animals moved back to BC to a beautiful acreage in Fort Steele. She spent time barrel racing and was an exceptional horsewoman. She was a zealous gardener and spent dedicated time cultivating her land to grow food and healing plants for her family. If Crystal wasn’t out riding her horses with her kids, she was in her garden teaching them how to grow wonderful things. She was an extraordinary cook and took great pride in making everything from scratch. She was a loving and devoted mother to Miranda and Jaron; they were her purpose and fueled her drive to heal when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2020. This was her most challenging journey. The incredible children she leaves behind will live on as her greatest legacy.

A Celebration of Life will be held on May 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Elko Community Hall.

In lieu of flowers, we graciously invite contributions to a children’s college fund, a meaningful tribute in honour of Crystal’s love and dedication to her children. Transfer details will be shared at a later date.

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