FLEUTY, Crystal Nell (nee McDonald)

1931- 2024

On 2 February 2024, Crystal Fleuty of Edmonton, Alberta passed away at the age of 92. 

Crystal was predeceased by her toddler son, Robbie and husband, R. Byrnes.  She is survived by her daughters Crystal, Karen (Gordon), Kirsten, her son James (Tania), grandchildren Morgan, Jaimie (Danny), Emma, Kari, Maya, Carlo, Kent, Christie and Sarah, great-granddaughters Ellie and Riley and numerous nieces and nephews.

Crystal was born in Edmonton, Alberta on 7 November 1931 to Dan and Mina McDonald, the seventh of eight children.  The family lived on a farm near Lougheed, Alberta.  When Crystal was ten years old the family moved into Lougheed and at thirteen years old the family moved to Edmonton.  She then had the opportunity to develop her talent by taking singing lessons.  Crystal received many awards and scholarships in music festivals.  Crystal starred as a soloist with the Edmon-Teens Variety Show and the Teen Time Radio Show on CFRN.  She sang at various hospitals, the Governor General’s house and throughout the province for returning soldiers.  She sang in many senior centres, funeral homes and University of Alberta convocations.  At 18 she began singing lead roles for the Edmonton Civic Operas and many other groups too numerous to mention.

In 1954 Crystal took her Grade 10 singing exam through the University of Toronto receiving first class honors and a silver medal.  When she was 24 she went to the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto receiving her associate degree in singing performance and teaching.

Crystal dedicated her life to vocal performance, being a private voice teacher and music education for 34 years. She was an examiner with the Western Board of Music and adjudicated major music festivals in Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia.   She also reached a large audience writing, performing and producing musical education programs for the Alberta School Broadcasts, Department of Education, on the radio “All Join In” for 13 years and on television “Making Music” for 8 years.  The programs reached thousand of students in classrooms through out Alberta, Northwest Territories, Yukon and on educational T.V. in Minnesota.  In 1991, she was awarded the Achievement Award of Edmonton in recognition of the significant contribution made to the area of Culture. 

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Crystal had a passion for travel.  She and Byrnes traveled all over North America and into Central American in their Airstream trailer spending summers in Gabriola Island, BC and winters in Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and California. She also enjoyed cruises and tours all over the world with her family and friends.  Crystal had a love for flowers and loved her peonies in her yard, in particular.  Crystal loved taking pictures and looking at them on her camera and in her photo albums.  She’d loved when friends, grandkids and family came to visit.  She loved her animals, especially DeeDee, Mackie and Minnie.  She was famous for her carrot cakes and pies.  Crystal hosted large parties with 100 or more people with not a blink of an eye.

The family would like to thank all the wonderful staff at AHS, Bayshore Homecare, Grey Nuns Family Medical Clinic, Grey Nuns Hospital (emergency department, unit 52 and unit 43), and St. Joseph’s Axillary hospital palliative care unit for the care that they all gave to our mother in her final days. We are forever grateful. 

Crystal died peacefully in her sleep with Karen by her side.  She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.  May she be remembered for the joy she brought to others and not the sadness of her passing.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to the “Crystal MacDonald Fleuty Memorial Scholarship” at the Edmonton Music & Speech Arts Festival (formerly known as the Edmonton Kiwanis Festival).  E-transfers can be made to  info@emsaf.ca or cheques can be mailed to EMSAF, 14004 – 75 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5R 2Y6 – please quote the Crystal MacDonald Fleuty Memorial Scholarship on your donation.

A celebration of life will take place on June 29, 2024, at 1:00PM at St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, 11111 – 57 Avenue NW, Edmonton.  Reception and inurnment to follow.

A limb has fallen

From the Family Tree,

That says grieve not for me.

Remember the best times,

The laughter, the song,

The good life I lived

While I was strong.

In Loving Memory of

Crystal