Estella Krebs

In Loving Memory of Estella Mae Krebs - October 29, 1934-February 3, 2026
Estella Mae Krebs passed away peacefully on February 3, 2026, after a life of love & resilience. Born on October 29, 1934, in Casper, WY and raised with her four siblings in Richmond, CA during the depression and World War II, she was forced to be strong from a young age. While raising her children in Sunnyvale, CA, she worked as an executive secretary at Watkins-Johnson and later as a manuscript editor for a publishing house. She was something to everyone - an incredible mother, a beloved grandmother, a devoted sister, and the "friend's mom" who was adored and respected by all. Once her children were raised, she found an adventurous life, selling her home and hitting the road in a 35-foot motorhome with her adventure partner, Howard Gray. They had a loving and devoted relationship, traveling throughout the country and visiting all the natural wonders. One of her proudest achievements was hiking to the top of Half Dome in 1992 - at the age of 57! She shared a love of Zion National Park with her grandson, Alex. She was also a talented bead worker, creating colorful mosaics and beautiful jewelry, and she loved doing arts & crafts with her grandchildren. She loved listening to Willie Nelson, but her favorite musical performances were those of her son, Michael, and grandson, Jason. She also enjoyed watching her granddaughter, Charlotte, riding her horse in Show Jumping competitions. Later in life she cherished the friendship that she shared with Hedy Schmidt and the companionship of her beloved dogs adopted from the Santa Cruz Animal Shelter behind her home, Polo & Charlie. Above all, she was a true friend to everyone she met, and she valued her relationships deeply. She was extremely intelligent, sharp-witted, and a natural-born storyteller. She is survived by her four children, Nathalie Murphy, Lorna Helick (Reuben), Michael Krebs (Heather), and Matthew Krebs (Joni); her six grandchildren, Alex Fruehsamer (Amelia), Miles Oki, Jason Krebs, Charlotte Krebs, Joshua Denmark, and Nicole Harriman (John); her two great-grandchildren, Paul Kalbach and Brody Denmark; and her sister, Loretta Mulligan. Her kindness, warmth, and steady love will continue to live on in all who knew her. Donations in her memory may be made to Hospice of Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz Animal Shelter, or Grey Bears of Santa Cruz.