Carla Crisp Standingdeer

Carla Crisp Standingdeer age 70, of Madison County North Carolina passed away on November 3, 2025, after a long battle with metastatic lung cancer.  “Her soul has gone for proving.”  She was preceded in death by her husband, James Standingdeer.

Carla was of good mountain stock, being from the union of the Greene and Crisp families.  Her grandparents were Carl Willis with Pally Greene and Otis Vincent with Vina Crisp.   Her mother was Carlene Juanita (Greene) Crisp and father was Gentry Otis Crisp.   She is survived by many cousins, a niece, two nephews, and a single 95 year old great aunt from these families, Opal Mann.  Her one surviving sibling, Jonathan Crisp, is retired and resides with his wife Allyson in Virginia.

Carla attended UNC-Chapel Hill.  She was not so blessed as to have any children, but she was a wallet toter of niece and nephew photos.   She loved painting and other forms of art, always wanting to be an artist of fame.  She enjoyed a chuckle and a good joke.  Carla and husband Jim loved the Parkway, and Water Rock Knob in particular.  Her life was made a daily challenge due to struggles with mental illness.   She was a believer in therapy and a regular client of the Pisgah Institute.   Life became harder for Carla after the death of her husband James five years ago. 

Carla was further challenged by lung cancer about 3 years ago which was removed surgically and she underwent treatment by radiation and chemotherapy.  She remained positive, living at home with her dog, Noel, and cat Rosie.  She was able to live at home independently until the last year at which time it was discovered that she had metastatic disease invading her liver, kidneys, and worst of all, deep in her brain.  She so wanted to walk again without assistance and attempted several times to overcome the right sided weakness caused by the brain tumor with inpatient physical therapy.  Despite her best efforts she became slowly unable to care for herself at home and passed away at Elderberry Nursing Home in Hospice care.

The family is extremely grateful to all her many caretakers, providers and physicians,  but especially to her very special friends Theresa, Sherry, Emma, and Lynn who remained steadfastly supportive and good friends until the end despite the tragedy that often pervades a cancer patient’s last days.  These ladies were all “mountain strong”.

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