Mary Ellen Crase was deeply loved by her family and known by many others through My Autistic Family, where she shared pieces of family life, adventures, challenges, and a whole lot of fun.

Mary was the undisputed queen of board games. Some of our family’s best memories are simply sitting around a table playing together, laughing, competing, and enjoying being a family. Those ordinary moments have become some of the ones we treasure most.

And then there was Lagoon.

Saying Mary loved Lagoon might be an understatement. She was obsessed, and she happily passed that love on to her children. Trips to Lagoon became part of the family’s story and something many people who followed their adventures came to recognize and enjoy right along with them.

Mary also wasn’t afraid to take a stand when something mattered to her. Most recently, that included her fight against Flock cameras. If you knew Mary, you probably aren’t surprised. When Mary believed in something, you generally knew about it.

That was Mary. She cared deeply, loved fiercely, had strong opinions, created adventures, and built memories with the people she loved.

Her sudden passing has left our family grieving while also facing an enormous practical question: how do we make sure Kyra continues to have the stability, care, and support she needs without her mom?

Kyra is 26, and Mary played an important role in providing the structure and support she needs in her life. Losing a mother is devastating at any age, but for Kyra, Mary’s absence also means losing a central part of the support system that helped provide consistency and stability in her everyday life.

We are establishing this fund primarily to help make sure that support continues.

Donations will help with Kyra’s immediate and ongoing needs, including stable living arrangements, everyday necessities, transportation, appropriate care and support services, counseling when helpful, structured assistance with daily life, and other needs that help her maintain a safe, stable, and supported future.

Just as importantly, we want to preserve as much of the money raised as reasonably possible for Kyra’s longer-term needs. Our family is taking steps to ensure that funds intended for her are kept separate, carefully accounted for, and responsibly protected while the appropriate long-term arrangements are established.

There are complicated family and legal matters still being resolved, and we don’t want to make promises about a particular financial or legal structure before it is actually in place. What we can promise is that the purpose of this fundraiser is clear: to help provide stability, care, and continued support for Kyra following the loss of her mother.

Because there is an active investigation and children are involved, our family will not be discussing the circumstances surrounding Mary’s death. We ask that people respect the privacy of everyone involved and refrain from speculation.

We would rather this page be a place to remember Mary for the life she lived: the mom, sister, daughter and friend; the board-game queen; the Lagoon fanatic; the woman who wasn’t afraid to fight about Flock cameras; and the person behind so many memories that her family now holds especially close.

If Mary or her family touched your life, we are grateful for any support you can offer. Donations, prayers, messages, memories of Mary, and simply sharing this fundraiser all mean more than we can express.

Thank you for remembering Mary and helping us make sure Kyra continues to have the support and stability her mom worked so hard to provide.

— The Family of Mary Ellen Crase