Yvette Gabrielle Crandall

In Loving Memory of Our Mother, Nana, and Grand Nana: Yvette Gabrielle Birs Crandall of Mt. Pleasant, MI entered into eternal life on March 3, 2023 at the University of Michigan Hospital with her family by her side. Yvette was the daughter of Louis Benjamin and Rosalina (Sawyer) Birs, born in Key West, FL on May 20, 1939. After spending the early part of her life in Key West, the family moved to Miami where she later graduated from Miami Senior High. Yvette attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she received both her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Dance. From 1962 to 1964, Yvette was the Movement and Dance Specialist for the University of Wisconsin Extension Division. From 1964 to 1965, she taught dance at Central Michigan University (CMU) and choreographed for the theatre department. Yvette then returned to Wisconsin to continue her performance and choreographic career and to teach Elementary Physical Education for the Madison Public Schools. Yvette met her future husband, Warren, at the Madison Theatre Guild production of Carousel where she played Louise and he played Billy Bigelow. They were married November 4, 1966. Yvette opened her arms to six children who became her own. She filled their lives with joy of the arts, farm life, and unconditional love. In 1967, Yvette was hired by CMU to teach dance and movement. During her tenure, Yvette founded the first dance company, Orchesis Dance Theatre, and designed the first dance minor curriculum. Her dancers too became her extended family. In her 42 years of dedicated service, she received 12 Regional and 1 National recognition by the American College of Dance Association for choreography. Yvette's professional career included work as a professional actor, dancer and choreographer in concert and musical theater, including travel to stages in New York, London, Paris, Cuba and the West Coast. Yvette was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Mt. Pleasant and in 2015 she was received into "The Order of the Daughters of the King" by Father Wayne Nicholson, as her sponsor. Yvette is survived by six children: Debbie Andres of Commerce Twp, Rebecca (Joe) Foltz of Mt. Pleasant, Warren Matthew Crandall of Mt. Pleasant, Julia Crandall (Jeff Graft) of Traverse City, Andrea (Mark) Daisy of Mt. Pleasant, and Lucas Crandall of Den Hague, Netherlands. Grandchildren are: Nicholas Andres, Laura (Sauve) Leone, Amie (Craig) Onstott, Paul (Whitney) Crandall, Diana Crandall, Megan Crandall, Crandall (Jason) Gall, Malissa (Tempie) Burke Brown, Erik (Kathryn) Burke, Nicole (Andy) Berghoff, and Mark (Erin) Daisy. Great grandchildren are: Madelynn, William, Haidyn, Brock, Owen, Chase, Aayla, Lucas, Vivian, Adrian, and Marcus. Yvette was preceded in death by her husband Warren L. Crandall, parents Benjamin, Rosalina and her Uncle Alfred of Rock Hill, SC. A memorial gathering for family and friends is to take place at Clark Family Funeral Chapel in Mt. Pleasant, MI, on Friday, June 9 from 4-7 PM. Funeral Service will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church, 206 W. Maple Street, in Mt. Pleasant on Saturday, June 10 at 1 PM followed by a reception at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. John's Episcopal Church (https://givingtools.com/give/3618 click on Memorials) or The Sally and John Goodrow Fund, (https://www.mpacf.org/goodrow click to donate now).