Mary was born in Navasota, Texas on June 11, 1924 To Samuel Amos Gates and Carolyn Lindley Gates. The family moved to Houston when she was 9 years old. She attended Cooley Elementary, Hamilton Jr. High and graduated with honors from Reagan Sr. High in 1941.
On November 3, 1943 she married Ellis Aaron Crawford in Sioux Falls South Dakota.
Mary was a life-long Methodist. As a youth she was active in Grace Methodist Church; as a young wife she was a member of Epworth Methodist Church active in the United Methodist Women's and later taught Sunday School.
She was very interested in genealogy and was very proud of being a descendant of Stephen F. Austin's Old 300.
Mary is preceded in death by her husband, Ellis A. Crawford, 3 brothers, Emmett Butts, John Gates, Samuel A Gates, Jr. and one sister, Evelyn Butts Elliott and is survived by one sister, Carolyn McDavid. She is also survived by her children, daughters, Mrs. James Garrett (Mary Beth), Mrs. J. David Kocurek (Kathy), Mrs. Carolyn Ashworth and son, Ellis A. Crawford, Jr., 8 grandchildren, 14 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.
Her family and friends will miss her wonderful sense of humor and love of life.
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