May 14, 2026, Seward Folly

Jean Elizabeth “Momma Jean” Cripps joined her beloved Don Cripps in eternity on May 3, 2026. A long-term Seward resident, she has resided at the Alaska Veterans and Pioneer Home in Palmer for the last four years. 

Momma Jean was born in Briggsville, PA, in 1931 and grew up on her family’s farm. The middle sister of five sisters, she grew up experiencing the strong bonds of close family, a characteristic that she embraced for her 95 years with us. After graduating from Nescopeck High School, she attended nursing school at the Geisinger School of Nursing in Danville, PA, graduating as a Registered Nurse in 1951.

It was at nursing school that she met the love of her life, Don Cripps, who himself had recently graduated as a Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Their life together was always an adventure. They had four sons and moved frequently during Don’s active duty service in the US Army. Together, they lived in Danville, PA; Denver, CO; Fort Campbell, KY; Petersburg, VA; Fayetteville, NC; Fort Richardson, AK; Camp Hill, PA; Taegu, South Korea; and Rockville, MD, before settling in Seward, AK, in 1977. 

The consummate “Army Wife,” Jean was the glue that held the family closely together, particularly during Don’s two combat assignments in Vietnam and one combat assignment in the Dominican Republic. 

Upon arriving in Seward, Don worked at Seward General Hospital, and Jean at the Wesleyan Home. Both became very active in the Seward Volunteer Ambulance Corps, as both were certified Emergency Medical Technicians (Level III). Later, Don and Jean both taught numerous industrial first aid and EMT classes at the Alaska Vocational Technical Center in Seward, with Jean assuming the solo role when Don spent a couple of years at the University of Washington in Seattle training as a Physician Assistant. She was recognized as the EMS Educator of the Year in 1996. 

Momma Jean was the heart and soul of SVAC, training several generations of EMTs, going on ambulance call-outs well into her 70s, doing billings and bookkeeping, and most importantly, ensuring that the responders were well-prepared and well-cared for. 

She was a perennial presence at the finish of the July 4th Mount Marathon Race, helping patch up the scrapes and occasional broken bones. Many runners didn’t consider themselves finished with the race until they got a quick pat on the rump by Momma Jean. 

Jean was very active in the Supreme Emblem Club of the United States of America and served for a couple of years as the Seward President and State President. She was a catcher for Seward’s GoGo Grannies softball team, ably representing the community throughout the state. 

Momma Jean was recognized by the President of the USA as an outstanding volunteer in 2014.

Jean is preceded in death by her father, Luther Smith of Briggsville, PA; her mother Grace (Baer) Smith of Nescopeck, PA; her husband of 56 years, Don Cripps of Seward, AK; her eldest sister, Lilian (Smith) Cinti of Buenos Aires, Argentina; her older sister Shirley (Smith) Moyer of Hobbie, PA, and her granddaughter Sparkyl Cripps of Dunedin, FL.

She is survived by her younger sister Lucy (Smith) Smith of Berwick, PA; her youngest sister Nancy (Smith) Kreuzberg of New Holland, PA; her son Donnie Cripps of Seward, AK; her son Steve Cripps of Alpina, MI, and his wife Maryette; her son Dave Cripps of Huntsville, AL, and his wife Ara; her son Wayne Cripps of Paulding, OH, and his wife Tammy; eight grandchildren, and fifteen great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, May 18, 2026, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the Seward Volunteer Ambulance Corps ambulance barn at 200 D Street in Seward. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Seward Volunteer Ambulance Corps in Momma Jean’s honor via GoFundMe.com at https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1H2o6W9bAM/