Louise Crawford

Mary Louise Crawford, 86, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Delta, died Friday, Feb. 13, 2009, at her home.

She was born Nov. 22, 1922, in Delta, daughter of Louis and Elizabeth Poole Hector. She and John Crawford Jr., high school sweethearts, were married Nov. 14, 1942, in Jackson. They lived and farmed in the Delta area until moving to Cape Girardeau in 1992.

Crawford was a member of Lynwood Baptist Church, where she enjoyed friendship with her Sunday school class and other members. She was a former member of First Baptist Church in Delta, where she taught preschool classes for 25 years and was very active in the church, hospitality and ministries. Crawford graduated from Delta High School in 1941, where she was the editor of the school newspaper.

She is survived by a devoted, loving husband, John Crawford of Cape Girardeau; two daughters, Judy (Douglas) White of Tulsa, Okla., Karen (Danny, deceased) Kight of Jackson; special nephews, Doug (Tammy and children) Simminger of Gordonville, John (Nancy and child) Simminger of Cape Girardeau; four grandchildren, Randy (Angela and children) White of Dallas, Lisa (Greg and children) Bayless of Tulsa, Quinn (Lidia and child) Kight of Pensacola, Fla., Lorrie (Evan and child) Falat of San Antonio; and 10 great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by nephews, John (Shirley) Moore of Cape Girardeau, John (Chris) Dalton of St. Louis, Jim (Cathy) Crawford of St. Louis; nieces, Bobbie (Glen) Bittner of St. Louis, Jo Ellen (Dee) Carlson of Kansas City, Mo.; sisters-in-law, Pauline Dalton and Suda Tuttle of St. Louis.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Imogene Moore and Lena Beth Simminger; and a son-in-law, Danny Kight.

Friends may call from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home, with the Rev. Mark Anderson officiating.

Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Cape County Memorial Park in Cape Girardeau.

Memorials may be made to American Red Cross and The Salvation Army.