JUDITH CROW

Judith Ann Crow, a longtime employee of the Southeast Missourian newspaper and local historian, died Monday, March 13, 2000, at age 71. She resided at Fountainbleau Lodge.

Crow was born May 14, 1928, at Campbell, daughter of Clarence A. Crow and Alwena Bremicker. Her father died in 1935 and her mother married Norman Lee Howlett in 1946. The family lived in Campbell until 1948, when it moved to Poplar Bluff. In 1952 they moved to Cape Girardeau. Mr. Howlett died in 1963 and Mrs. Howlett in 1979.

She was a member of First Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau.

Crow was educated in the Campbell public schools and was valedictorian of her high school graduating class in 1946. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in 1950 from Southeast Missouri State University, where she majored in English. While at Southeast, she was editor of the Capaha Arrow from 1949-50. She was an American Association of University Professors honor senior in 1950.

Through a cooperative program at Southeast, Crow earned a master of arts degree in education from the University of Missouri in 1966.

She was employed by the Southeast Missourian newspaper from 1950 through 1984, starting as a researcher and advertising proofreader and continuing at that position until 1964. That year she became a staff writer for the newspaper and its librarian, positions she held until her retirement in 1984.

Even after her retirement, Crow continued for several years to be the Missourian's theater reviewer. Annually, she would present "the Judy," a theatrical award given Southeast Missouri State University students who excelled at their craft.

As a reporter for the Missourian she received Best Feature Story Awards from the Missouri Press Association in 1966 and 1974. During that time, Crow covered numerous arts and educational events. She wrote a series of articles on the Dennis Collection of Egyptian Antiquities. These 12 articles were based on research and interviews done by Crow. The series first appeared in the Southeast Missourian in September 1977 and was later reprinted as a museum publication when the artifacts were exhibited at the Southeast Missouri State University Museum in October 1977.

That same year, she visited the Exhibition of Archaeological Finds of the People's Republic of China in Kansas City and then wrote interpretive articles for the readers of the Missourian. In 1979 she prepared articles for the Brodsky-Faulkner Exhibit held on the Southeast Missouri State campus.

For many years she contributed to the "Youth Page," that was printed weekly in the Missourian and featured young people and area schools.

In 1963 Crow purchased and restored the house at 323 Themis Street, an 1800s dwelling. The house was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. That same year she sold the house and moved to Fountainbleau Lodge.

Crow was very active in civic activities and was honored by numerous groups. In the 1950s she was nominated for the Outstanding Young Woman award. Business and Professional Women named her Woman of the Year in 1973.

Southeast Missouri State University's College of Humanities honored Crow in 1980 "for bringing rare insight and sustained dedication to public reporting of the humanities." She was the first non-university person to receive that award.

She was the 1986 recipient of the Exchange Club's Golden Deeds Award, an award that is given annually to an individual who has made lengthy and significant contribution to the community. In 1989 Crow received the Otto Dingeldein Award, honoring her "as an individual who has promoted an awareness of and appreciation for the arts for more than 25 years."

In 1990 Crow was selected as the recipient of the Missouri Easter Seals Society's award for personal achievement. The award is bestowed each year to an individual with a disability who demonstrates imagination, tenacity, resolution and an indomitable spirit in overcoming his disabilities. The selection is made from candidates named from all regions of the state.

She was also given the 1992 Womancare Award from St. Francis Medical Center, which is given annually to a woman from the Cape Girardeau area who has achieved significant accomplishments in her field of interest.

In addition, Crow was affiliated with numerous state and local groups, including the American Association of University Women, of which she was president from 1978 to 1980; Cape Girardeau Business and Professional Women's Club, president 1970-1972; Citizen's Goals for Cape Girardeau (Cape Go!), 1969-1974; Cape Girardeau Civic Center, board of directors; Missouri University Extension Services; Community Concerts Association; Cape Girardeau County Association for Retarded Children; Community Theatre;

Council for Exceptional Children; Council of Women's Clubs; National Rehabilitation Association, Cape Girardeau County League of Women Voters; Cape Girardeau Writers Guild; Historical Association of Greater Cape Girardeau; Executive Club of Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County Historical Club; State Historical Society of Missouri; Southeast Missouri State College Alumni Association, Centennial History Committee; Southeast Missouri State University Writers Center, and Zonta International, charter member.

Crow was in preceded in death by her parents and stepfather.

She is survived by a cousin, Harvey C. Moore of Fredericktown; and friends, Wyn Hirsch, James Drickey and Sharon K. Sanders, all of Cape Girardeau.

Funeral will be at 12:30 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel, with the Rev. John Owen officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home today from 10:30 a.m. until service time.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Cape Girardeau Civic Center and First Baptist Church of Cape Girardeau.