Krystal's  Dash




Krystal's Memorial Bench 
at Mission Of Nombre De Dios 
Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche
 in St. Augustine, Florida.
 We are not Catholic, but Mom 
chose this location for its natural beauty
 and sacred atmosphere.
www.missionandshrine.org



Krystal's Bench is directly infront of 
The Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche.

Krystal's Dash

With tears streaming down my face
I stared at my child's Memorial Bench.
A Memorial Bench for my child?
How could this be?
Never had I even considered
 that my child would or could die, 
before me.
 The universe was now
 upside-down, 
inside-out,
out of the natural order of
the "circle of life." 
Our Krystal 
with life ahead of her.
 Precious one year old twin sons- 
Daniel and Andrew,
to love, teach, enjoy and raise.
Our Krystal
with a husband- 
Joe,
to love and grow old together.
Our Krystal 
with broken-hearted parents-
left bereaft.
Our Krystal
with three sisters-
Kina, Karen, and Kelly
who share a life history
and should have years
 to do "sister" things-
to laugh,
to love,
 to argue, 
to make-up,
to watch their children 
grow to adulthood.
 Four sisters 
to grow old together. 
Our Kystal
with a "forever friend"-
Risa 
who bonded on a soul level,
who should have grown old together.  
I starred at the dates
 on Krystal's Memorial Bench 
from the beginning... to the end. 
1974 - 2003.
 1974 - joyous year of her birth, 
2003 - horrid date of her death.  
A death- 
much too soon,
too unexpected,
 too sudden,
that crushed our hearts
turned our universe into chaos. 
Then I starred at the dash-
that dash between those years
1974 - 2003.
Krystal's Dash -
 that dash represents 
the time 
that she spent alive on earth.
 Those who love her 
know what Krystal's Dash is worth.
For it matters not,
 how much she earned...
 the awards...
the cars...
the house...
the cash...
the business...
the college degree.
What really and truly matters is
 how Krystal lived. 
How she lived for Andrew and Daniel,
cherished being their Mommy.
How she loved her family. 
How she loved,
 and served all sentient beings.
How she had a zesty, fiery side.
She would stand eyeball-to-eyeball,
and not back down
to anything or anyone 
who represented 
injustice, 
unfairness,
 dishonesty,
 or mean-spiritness.
How I admire and honor Krystal's spunk!
   Ponder how she spent her short dash. 
 The values
  Krystal lived 
during her dash.
For Krystal never knew 
how little time on this earth she had left.  
None of us had the slightest clue.
Had we known, 
we would have moved Heaven and Earth
 to save our Krystal.
Krystal is a wise
 and God-Loving Soul
 who innately knew, 
valued and lived 
what's true and real, and eternal.
 Krystal always tried to understand 
the way other people felt. 
She considered other's feelings,
 and she showed appreciation and gratitude 
for the people she met in life.
Krystal  unconditionally loved
 the people in her life, 
with no thought of gaining anything in return. 
Krystal loved,
  because she is love.
She knew, really knew, 
love is all that truly matters. 
Krystal treated people 
from all walks of life with respect, 
and her smile gave joy and light 
to a world so in need of joy and light.
None of us who love Krystal 
could ever have imagined 
that her dash 
would only give her 
29 years on this earth. 
Looking at Krystal's Memorial Bench
through tears,
 I stood in pain and gratitude
 thinking of how much 
love, compassion, caring, and service 
our Krystal accomplished 
with her short dash. 
How we ache that she left too soon,
 but Krystal and her dash 
will always live in our hearts.

written by Krystal's Mom, Jo Ann Webb 






"Beloved Wife, Mother
Daughter And Sister
Mar. 5, 1974 - Dec. 10, 2003
To Know Her Was To Love Her
Krystal Long Duss"








The State of Florida placed this "Drive Safely"
 sign with Krystal's name at the crash site,
which is just east of the intersection 
of Beach Boulevard and University Boulevard 
in Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
Mom and Don maintain the site
with a picture of Krystal,
description of what happened,
and a large wreath of silk flowers.
Mom has a difficult time going to the site
but believes it is important to keep
Krystal's legacy and memory alive.



Krystal, 
the ABSENCE of your PRESENCE is EVERYWHERE.  
Though you are not with us physically
 we will lovingly carry you in our hearts forever. 
Your legacy will live on 
through your sons-
 Daniel and Andrew, 
your husband-
Joe, 
your dad,
 your mom,
 your sisters-
 Kina, Karen and Kelly,
 Judy,
 Don,
and your niece and nephews-
 Kari, Cody, Detrall, Tyler and Dontae.
Risa
and Ryan.
Til we meet again, 
Our Sweet Krystal,
 You are with us always.

written by Krystal's Mom, Jo Ann Webb




Krystal's Legacy
Treasured and Loved Twin Sons 
L to R - Andrew and Daniel
1st Birthday Party on December 7, 2003.







 Krystal's Legacy
L to R - October 2006
Daniel, Detrall, Andrew, Dontae, Tyler





Krystal's Legacy
Cody and Kari, August 2006






Krystal's Legacy
Joe









Krystal's Legacy
Dad





Krystal's Legacy
Judy









Krystal's Legacy
L to R - Mom, Karen, Kelly, Detrall
Mom's 52nd Birthday






Krystal's Legacy
Don, Kina, Mom in 2006






Krystal's Legacy
Risa
The "Wild Gals" Having Fun!









Krystal's Legacy - Vaida Rose
September 15, 2007 Vaida Rose's Birth!
(Kelly and Jon's second child.) Jon and Mom were with Kelly throughout labor. Don was home with Tyler. Sweet Vaida Rose was born and weighted 9 pounds and 2.2 ounces. She is absolutely gorgeous with lots of long black hair, flawless complexion and lovely eyes. What a happy day to welcome our Vaida Rose into the world.
Yet amoung the bliss of Vaida Rose's birth exists the absence of Aunt Krystal. We will be sure Vaida Rose hears stories of her 
Aunt Krystal and how much Aunt Krystal loves her. 




Krystal, 
we miss you with every breath we take.  
You are always in our hearts.  Our legacy to you is to try to practice random acts of kindness and try to , in some small way, make the world a little more kind, gentle, loving and caring.  We love you Krystal!