Obituary--Mrs. H. W. (Luella) Crawford

This is another obituary of an area pioneer.  The obituary of her husband Holly W. Crawford was posted here this past June.  As I mentioned then, I was acquainted, as a child, with one of their sons.  And they lived quite near my present home.  Mrs. Crawford's passing was noted not only with a brief mention in the community column, but being the wife of a pioneer, she also was given a lengthy obituary.  Here are both of them.


From the 9 November 1916 Fremont TimesIndicator.

Mrs. Luella Crawford, widow of the late Holly Crawford passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs Frank Nash, last Tuesday evening.  The funeral services were held at Sitka M. E. church and burial took place at the Holton cemetery Friday. Rev. A. R. Elliott officiated.

And the full obituary.

Mrs. H. W. Crawford
Luella Nelson was born in Houghton, Canada, February 16, 1852, and passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Frank Nash, near Sitka, October 31, 1916.  She came into Michigan with her parents in 1855, settling in Claybanks township, Oceana county, removing from there with her widowed mother to Newaygo county in 1862, living one-half mile west of the Kempf schoolhouse. 
On April 1, 1869, whe was married to Holly W. Crawford and came to live on the farm which has since been her home.  coming as she did into the country when it was new, she gave freely of strength and purpose to the up-building of the community, always ready to help in time of sickness or sorrow she has been for many years one of the mainstays of the community.  For three years before the death of her husband she was his constant companion and nurse, never leaving him for even one day during that time.
Mr. Crawford passed away three years ago the 9th of this month.  Mrs. Crawford spent all of last year with her son, Reuben in California, returning in April, since which time she has visited most of the time with one of her daughters, making her home with her son, George, at the old homestead.  Mrs. Crawford's sudden death was a shock to her friends and especially to her family.  She was taken ill and died in a very short time, before the doctor or her sons could get to her bedside. 
she leaves of her immediate family five sons, Chester, Reuben, Perrin, Guy and George; two daughters, Mrs May Furgeson and Mrs. Lydia Nash; two brothers, Ben Nelson of Seattle Wash., J. E. Nelson, of Manistee and one sister, Mrs. Sarah Oleson, of Holton.  Except the son Reuben, and brother, Ben, these were all present at the funeral which was held at Sitka M.E. church, followed by burial at the side of her husband at Holton cemetery.  She also leaves 29 grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Mrs. Crawford embraced religion in early married life and has remained a consistent christian to the end of her days.  She will be greatly missed in the neighborhood where she has so long resided.

Quite a nice write up for a woman, back then.  This obit contains lots of her personal history, and very little of her husband's history, which is often the case. Lots of names, dates and places.  Hopefully some of her family will someday find it helpful when doing their genealogy.