Krista Elizabeth Hower

Krista was born in Torrance, CA on May 19, 1987, the first child of Brian and Katie Hower. She was named in honor of Christa McAuliffe, the teacher killed in the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger accident. Her middle name, Elizabeth, is in honor of her maternal grandmother.

Krista was an outstanding student, graduating in 2005 at the top of her class from Valley Christian High School in Dublin, CA and received the Chevron Reach Scholar Award for academic excellence. She loved music, playing piano, violin and singing in the choir.

Krista was attending the University of San Francisco, majoring in Psychology when she was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2008. Although Krista lived with chronic pain, she was a fighter always seeking new cures. She loved meeting new people, especially in Sedona, and would befriend everyone.

Krista first visited Sedona last May for her 28th birthday and loved its beauty & spirituality, professing she would eventually live in Sedona. She especially loved Bell Rock where she would go to meditate and pray. On December 21, Krista climbed Bell Rock and was unable to climb down. While in contact with emergency rescuers and awaiting rescue, she fell from the rock. Krista had a strong personal relationship with Jesus and is now at perfect peace in the presence of our Lord and Savior.

Krista is survived by her mother and father and her step-father Jerry Kihara, brother Brian Hower, half-sister Tara Hower and step-brother Kenneth Kihara.