Earlier today, December 2, 2008, the Rev. Kathleen Baskin-Ball died after a nearly two cancer battle. Katlheen was a remarkable woman. This past Sunday (11/30) she baptized 35 infants and children at the church she was serving until the end, Suncreek United Methodist Church in Allen, Texas. Attached is a link to the story about Kathleen Baskin-Ball from the Dallas Morning News that ran on November 29th.
I have known Kathleen for a long time. She came to Denton in the mid 1980′s to join my Dad (Bill Crouch) as an associate pastor at First United Methodist Church in Denton. Kathleen was one of my Dad’s favorites, her energy, enthusiasm and passion for ministry was an inspiration to him even after she moved on to serve other churches in the North Texas Conference.
My dad died this past May from the effects of multiple myeloma. As a matter of fact Kathleen and my dad were on the same chemo program in early April, when Kathleen was the Hopkins Lecturer at First UMC Denton. For my dad hearing Kathleen speak at those lectures was of utmost importance. He sat on the front row throughout the lecture series.
Kathleen and I served together in the delegations for United Methodist Church General and Jurisctional Conferences in 1996, 200, 2004, and 2008. She is a great leader of our church. She performed the wedding ceremony for my sister Sarah and inspired my sister Mary Beth to enter the ministry and was a key colleague in ministry. Kathleen’s death brings great sadness to many and yet there is so much to be thankful for about her life and her ministry. In the Crouch family we have always considered Kathleen to be one of ”ours”. We all take solace in knowing even in the midst of great trials, pain and sadness that God is with us and our prayers are with Bill and Skylar that they may continue to feel God’s presence everyday.
