Obituary of Frances Nelle Crawford

FRANCES NELLE "MURPH" CRAWFORD, age 79, a resident of the Rydal Park Retirement Community and Hallowood Acres, East Stroudsburg and formerly of Baederwood died peacefully, surrounded by her family and friends, on December 10, 2011. Born on June 13, 1932 in Lansdale, PA, she was the daughter of the late James O. Crawford and the late Frances "Susie" Gose Crawford. She earned her Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Penn State University and later earned her Masters degree in Reading from Temple University. She began her career as an elementary school teacher in Dormont, PA. In 1956, she moved to Abington and began teaching second grade at Highland Elementary School. She retired, in 1996, as Chairman of the Reading Department at Abington Junior High School. Know to all as Murph, her infectious laugh, extroverted personality and commitment and dedication to family, friends and her chosen field of reading, made her a respected leader, caring listener, devoted friend and mentor to all her know her. As a committed volunteer, she made many contributions to the Abington Civic Club, Abington Presbyterian Church as an Elder, Deacon and Chair of the Older Adult Committee. She was a member of the International Reading Association, held offices in the Keystone State Reading Association and the Delaware Valley Reading Association, where a conference was named in her honor. She was the loving sister of Janet A. Crawford of Pittsburgh, PA, and James O. Crawford of Virginia Beach, VA and was the devoted aunt of James Crawford and Casey Morris of Glenside and Patrick Kent Morris of Pittsburgh and the proud great-aunt of Emma Lily, Chloe Anne and Charlie Nelle Morris. Memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, December 16, 2011 at Abington Presbyterian Church, 1082 Old York Road, Abington, where friends will be received from noon until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Delaware Valley Reading Association, c/o Kelly Doyle, 84 E. Rose Tree Road, Media, PA 19063 (Reference - Murph Reading Crawford Conference)