Nancy Seamons Crookston, a renowned artist from Alameda, passed away from a postoperative blood clot. Crookston, who was nearing her 75th birthday, recently underwent shoulder surgery. Her death came as a shock to both her family and admirers according to an announcement on her Facebook page.
As an Oil Painters of America Master, Crookston was committed to her craft and planned to continue painting despite her surgery KTVU reported. Unfortunately, a fall that resulted in the broken shoulder she used for painting led to complications following her surgery.
Garr Crookston, Nancy’s husband of 56 years, described their partnership to KTVU. “We were living the dream together,” he said. Together, they combined their love for arts and entrepreneurship. Nancy’s art was displayed in their family-run audiology practice, Hearing Zone.
Sara Peterson, another artist, remembered Crookston as a source of inspiration. Peterson shared via KTVU, “She was such an inspiration to me,” noting how Nancy juggled her career and family life effortlessly. She taught her children to appreciate nature and had a unique personal style that matched the creativity of her art.
Awarded multiple times for her oil figure paintings, Nancy Crookston will be posthumously honored by the California Art Club. Her legacy continues through the Nancy S. Crookston OPAM Memorial Contributions, which support others pursuing art.
The Bay Area art scene mourns the loss of Nancy Seamons Crookston. Her last painting, a Santa figure, indicates she passed following her passion. The family will announce a celebration of life event as they, along with the art community, start to cope with this loss.
