Frances Crawford

Frances Elizabeth Weeks Crawford was born on December 31, 1922 in Whitney, TX, to Thomas and Ola Mae Weeks. She passed from this life on December 25, 2012 in Albuquerque, NM. Frances graduated from Whitney High School at age 16 and went to Hill Country Junior College in Hillsboro, TX, where she received an Associate Degree. Soon after that, she met a newly graduated Texas A&M young man who had come to Whitney as the new Agriculture teacher, Don Crawford. Don was drafted, entered the Army, qualified for Officer Training School and eventually became a pilot in the Army Air Corps. As WWII was winding down, Frances joined Don in Phoenix, AZ, and they were married on March 21, 1945. Don mustered out of the Air Corps and took a teaching position in Yuma, AZ, where they lived until 1952. Frances couldn't stand the heat of Yuma, so the family moved to Albuquerque where Don had been briefly stationed during the war. Don entered the life insurance business and Frances was a homemaker to their three children. Frances was widowed in 1978 at only 55 years of age. She had never worked outside the home, but at that time she took over Don's insurance business. In the following 30 years, she managed a very successful agency for National Old Line Insurance Company, being named Outstanding Performer more than ten times. Frances was very involved in the community, serving as president of the Albuquerque Woman's Club, and maintaining an active membership in the Life Underwriters Association. She also served one year as President of the Alumni Association of Whitney High School. Her church involvement was most important in her life. The family were members of the University Church of Christ, and later Frances attended Montgomery Church of Christ, where she was a faithful greeter for years. Frances and Don were instrumental in the establishment of the Albuquerque Christian Children's Home. Don was Chairman of the Board at the time of his death and Frances served on the Board of Directors until 2004. Frances was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Tom Paul Weeks; her sister, Ethel Wooten; and her beloved husband, Don. She is survived by her daughter, Carole Crawford DeArman and husband, Ron of Richardson, TX; son, Charles "Pat" Crawford and wife, Penny of Houston, TX; son, Thomas "Mike" Crawford and Kathleen of Albuquerque; five grandchildren, Wade DeArman and wife, Sheridan of McKinney, TX, Chad DeArman of Dallas, TX, Clay Crawford of Austin, TX, Kindall Crawford of Charleston, SC, and Alexander Crawford of Fayetteville, AK. She had two beautiful great-granddaughters, Avery and McKinley DeArman of McKinney, TX, and numerous nieces and nephews, including Harold and Jan Cheves of Albuquerque. Services will be held Saturday, January 12, 2012, 2:00 p.m., at Montgomery Church of Christ, 7201 Montgomery Blvd. NE. Interment will be held at a later date at the Crawford family cemetery in Bridgeport, TX. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Frances' memory to the Albuquerque Christian Children's Home, 5700 Winter Haven Road, Albuquerque, NM, 87120.