Shirley Crawford

Shirley Crawford, born on May 31, 1926, joined her beloved husband, Leo on September 14, 2024. She was the daughter of the late Ruby (Griswold) and Hermon Parsons. On July 6, 1944 she married Leon Crawford and they were married for 50 years before he passed.

Shirley was a woman of great determination. As was the norm of her generation, she was unable to get her high school diploma. She later attended classes and received her GED while taking care of her family and helping on the farm. She worked with and beside her husband cutting firewood, haying fields, sugaring and any other chore that needed to be done. She also cleaned homes up until her 80's.  She loved to read books, papers, magazines, etc. Any article about someone she knew, or did not know, she would cut out and put in a scrapbook. She was very interested in the genealogy of her family and spent many hours doing research. She started painting in her later years and continued until her death, giving her paintings to family, friends and many people who just stopped in. Her home was open to everyone, and once you entered, you were welcomed and fed. There was always enough for everyone. She prepared holiday meals never knowing how many people would be there, but always having enough food. She always enjoyed being home. In her later years she preferred to be home, until you asked about going to the casino. She could always be ready in 20 minutes. She went and enjoyed going to the casino right up to 3 weeks prior to her death. When asked if she won, she responded with a smile "I don't know, I can't remember how much I brought with me". She had a great love for her pets, especially her chickens, dogs, cats and in her later years her cats Bonnie and Clyde.

Shirley is survived by her sons Herman "Scott" (Nancy), Alan (Suzanne), Rodney (Candy), Roger (Cheri) and her beloved daughter Charlotte (Gary) Birch. She was affectionately known as Gramma Chickens to 13 Grandchildren, Tonya, Todd, Ryan "Boe", Katie, Jason, Ann-lyn, Crystal, Kristy, Matthew, Kevin, Lisa, James and Shelly Lynn, 24 Great Grandchildren and 16 Great-Great Grandchildren. She was survived by many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by 5 brothers, Ralph, Ernest, Bernard, and Richard Parsons and 2 sisters, Agnes Pietrunti and Verna Cannedy.

Services for Shirley will be held Friday, September 20, 2024 at the Jacksonville Community Church in Jacksonville, VT at 11am. Burial will follow the service at the Riverview Cemetery in Wilmington, VT. Visitation where the family will be in attendance will be held Thursday, September 19, 2024 from 4 to 6pm at Covey Allen & Shea Funeral Home, 44 East Main St Wilmington, VT 05363.

Memorial donations in Shirley’s memory may be made to The Windham County Humane Society 916 W River Rd #9089, Brattleboro, VT 05301.