Debra Mitchell Crews 59, of Cave City, Ky passed away peacefully at her home Monday, June 19, 2023 surrounded by her loving family. She was the daughter of Romona Robertson(Cecil) and the late Thomas W. Mitchell.
Throughout Debra’s career she was in the medical field most of her life including working for Southern Kentucky Orthopedics(Dr. Reddy) TJ Samsom Hospital, and teaching at Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College in the Surgical Tech Program.
Her accomplishments included…
Debra Crews, RN, CNOR, CST/CSFA, F.A.S.T., KCSA, Assistant Professor at Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College, was named as a Fellow with the Association of Surgical Technologists (F.A.S.T.) at the National Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) Conference in New Orleans, LA on June 8, 2017. Fellows are the highest level of recognition and are required to have at least 8 consecutive, uninterrupted years of AST membership and hold and maintain the CST or CSFA credential. Debra had been a member of AST for 30 years.
Debra held both the Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) and Certified Surgical First Assistant (CSFA) national certifications. She served on the Kentucky State Assembly of AST as a Board of Director. She held the CNOR certification from the Association of perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) which is the gold standard of the profession. She was also certified by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure as a Kentucky Certified Surgical Assistant (KCSA).
Debra held an Associate of Science degree in Nursing from WKU. She graduated from the SKYCTC Surgical Technology program in 1988. She began her position as Program Director/Coordinator/Instructor of the Surgical Technology Program at SKYCTC in October 2013. Previously at SKYCTC, she was an evening adjunct instructor from 1999-2005.
The FELLOW OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SURGICAL TECHNOLOGISTS (FAST) designation is awarded to recognize those individuals who have upheld the highest professional, ethical and moral standards and traditions of the surgical technology profession, and whose professional activity has been devoted to the advancement of the profession toward improving the quality of surgical patient care. She was also named a Kentucky Colonel.
Debra had a loving heart and loved helping with anyone in need; she loved animals especially dogs; and was a member of numerous organizations pertaining to nursing.
In addition to her mother she is survived by her husband Charlie; three step-children: Ricky Crews, Karen Crews Jessie, Charles Glen Crews; two brothers: Tommy Mitchell (Lori), and Troy Robertson(Lisa); six grandchildren: Ally Faith Robertson, Troy Dillon Crews, Benjamin Crews, Wesley Crews, Cady Gregg, and Emily Foster; and five great-grandchildren; nephew and great nephew that she adored Matt Mitchell (Betty Jane) and Milo Mitchell.
In addition to her father she is preceded in death by a grandson Christopher Branham.
Funeral services will be held 1pm Saturday June 24, 2023 at Hatcher and Saddler Funeral home with burial in the Glasgow Municipal Cemetery.
Visitation will be after 10am Friday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to BRAWA or the American Cancer Society.