Crystal Celeste Thompson

CRYSTAL CELESTE THOMPSON of Cedar Key died on Friday, July 9, 2010 at Shands Hospital in Gainesville after a sudden and brief illness. She was 35.


Born in Charleston, SC on September 24, 1974, Crystal lived most of her life in Chattanooga, TN where she attended Orange Grove Center for twenty-two years and participated annually in the Special Olympics on the McCallie School Campus. She moved to Cedar Key in 2002 with her immediate family.


Although Crystal was known and loved by all as a person with special needs, she was also blessed with very special gifts. Above all she loved life as she knew it, and inspired both friends and strangers with her laughter, and the joy she found in the people around her. She laughed a lot. Whether as the official greeter of customers at Cedar Key`s Dilly Dally Gally, or as a regular visitor at fairs and festivals in the park, Crystal was known to radiate a contagious happiness to all who came in contact with her. She would always point the way for anyone who asked, "How do I get to Sesame Street?"


Crystal was the daughter of Jeanmarie Altman Long, of Cedar Key and Gary Lee Thompson, Jr, and his wife, Brenda, of Easley, SC. In addition to her parents, she is survived by one sister, Adelaide Michelle Long of Cedar Key and six brothers including Chris B. Long and his wife Stacy, of Ringgold, GA, Derek Long and his wife Melissa, of Ooltewah, TN, Brent Hughes of Cedar Key, Gary Lee Thompson, III, of Liberty, SC, Daniel R. Thompson and his wife Heather, of Liberty, SC, and James Mason Long, of Cedar Key. She is also survived by a maternal grandmother, Lenore Hickman of Walterboro, SC and paternal grandmother Rebecca June Davis Thompson, of Easley, SC.


Lifelong friends and constant caregivers who have contributed most to Crystal`s life include Barbara Hysinger, Tyrus Chisolm, and Debbie Cofer, all of Chattanooga, and her very special aunt, Kathleen Odmann of Cedar Key.


Crystal was preceded in death by her stepfather Robert James Mason Long, maternal grandparents Dr. James Lloyd Altman and Elsie Jean Altman, and paternal grandfather, Gary Lee Thompson, Sr.


A Memorial Service was held for Crystal at the Cedar Key Church of Christ on Monday, July 12, 2010 with the Rev. Daniel Carswell officiating. The family suggests that those who wish to pay tribute to her life may honor Crystal through a donation to the Special Olympics program. Arrangements were under the direction of Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services in Chiefland, FL.