Alberta Louise Crawford, age 91, of Clinton, Missouri passed away on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at Adair Village in Clinton, Missouri.
Alberta Louise Funk, daughter of Albert Parker Funk and Goldie Ann McLain was born in 1932 at her rural home in Windsor, MO. She was the last surviving sibling of her large family consisting of her mother, father, four sisters, and two brothers.
As a young girl Louise helped her family by working on the family dairy farm. She milked cows before going to school each morning along with completing a host of other chores common to farm life while growing up. She proudly graduated from Calhoun High School in Calhoun, MO as a member of the class of 1950. After graduation Louise worked at the International Shoe Factory in Windsor, MO.
On December 30, 1951, she married Raymond Earl Crawford. To the union were born three children: Raymond Earl Jr., Tommy Lynn, and Shirley Louise. As a young mother of three, her main goal in life was to be a good wife, mother, and later a grandmother. She surpassed this goal in all titles and eventually added the title Great and Great-Great Grandmother to the accomplishment. She was deeply loved and known by so many friends and family simply as “Granny.”
After years spent raising her own children, she went on to helping others raise theirs by working for the Clinton School District as a school bus driver for 20 years. Later in life she also worked for Citizens Union State Bank for 7 years as a courier transferring documents between the local and southern bank branches.
She was profoundly committed in her Faith and was an active member of the Golden Valley Christian Church until her health began preventing her from attending regularly scheduled services. In addition to always being an active member in her Church, she was also active in the VFW’s Lady Auxiliary where she served as Lady Auxiliary President and Chairperson for the Bingo Association. She took great pride in all the VFW activities and always worked heavily on the annual Buddy Poppy Fundraiser. She had a joy for conversation and loved a good visit from friends and family alike. She loved to share stories new as well as old and had a remarkable memory where she could provide full name and birthday dates for every family member past and present.
Throughout her life and marriage to Raymond, Louise was a Charter Member and past President of the Golden Valley Bluegrass Club. She could always be found setting up and operating the funnel cake shack at the local Bluegrass Festival. She and Raymond loved to travel to and camp at bluegrass festivals around the state. Her love of music continues to be passed on through her children and grandchildren generation after generation.
Louise had an infectious laugh and one of the best witches cackles you have ever heard when dressed in her favorite Halloween costume. While she had a passion for baking a variety of sweets, her angel food cake, homemade noodles, and homemade Christmas candy will always be time honored and cherished family recipes and traditions of every holiday season.
Louise was preceded in death by both of her parents, all six of her siblings, her husband, both of her sons, one grandson Paul, and one great granddaughter Meghan.
Louise is survived by her daughter Shirley and favorite son in law Dennis of Clinton, Grandson Roger (Cathy) Crawford and their children Caitlyn, Rhiannon, Gabriel, Aeowyn of Colorado Springs, Grandson Jeremy (Chrissy) Wilson and their children Hayden (Bailee) and Jase, Riley (Tara) of Clinton, Grandson Denis (Christina) Crawford of Garden City and their children Tommy (Hailey) Connor and Oaklynn of Clinton, Shelby Crawford Garden City, Grandson Johnny (Melissa) Crawford and their sons Quincy and Alex of Clinton, Great grandson Logan (Chelsea) Wilson of Clinton, as well as several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held March 11, 2024 at the Vansant-Mills Chapel, Clinton with Pastor Tim Randall and Pastor James McFarland officiating. Special music included “Old Rugged Cross and Amazing Grace” sung by grandson, Johnny Crawford. The casket bearers were: Gabriel Crawford, Quincy Crawford, Alex Crawford, Tommy Crawford, Logan Wilson, Hayden Wilson, and Riley Wilson. The honorary casket bearers were: Roger Crawford, Johnny Crawford, Denis Crawford, and Jeremy Wilson. Interment followed in Englewood Cemetery, Clinton, MO.
The family would like to thank Golden Valley Hospice and all the administration and staff at Adair Village in Clinton, MO for their exceptional care and compassion that they provided to Louise and her family.
Services were under the direction of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, MO.
