Margaret Ann Crawford

Born on May 1, 1936 in Tazewell County, she was the daughter of Earsel and Ruth (Diegel) Carpenter. She married Dale Wayne Blackaby on July 9, 1955 in Pekin. He died November 18, 1987. She later married James R. Crawford on September 13, 1991 in Morton. He died in 1995. She also was preceded in death by her parents and her infant son, Brian.

The family she left behind to cherish her memory are her son, Michael and his wife Nancy of Pekin; her daughter, Sonita and her husband Ron Gaitros of Wilmington, North Carolina; her precious granddaughters Melissa (Jake Iddings) Blackaby of Lacon, Heather (Justin) O'Carrick of St. Paul, Minnesota and Olivia Gaitros of Wilmington and great-grandchild, Faegan O’Carrick. Rayne Smith was also near to her heart.

Margaret was a caretaker her whole life. From her kids and their school friends, to her Cub Scouts and PTA people, to her parents and church friends and craft ladies, you certainly felt her love. If you were lucky enough to be her family or neighbor or friend, you were no doubt a recipient of her late night baking, her beautiful handwork or one her many care packages. She loved to go to church, to concerts, on long car rides without a destination in mind, to camp, to grow beautiful plants, to arrange flowers and to embroider and knit. In her later years she made sure her special pups always had a warm blanket. Everyone whose life she touched will always remember being wrapped in her love.

Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 1, 2023 at New Life Church in Morton. Pastor Nick Olyer will officiate. Visitation will be one hour before the funeral at the church. Burial will be in Spring Lake Cemetery in rural Manito. Arrangements have been entrusted to Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be made to New Life Church for their Family Emergency Fund, 401 West Edgewood Court, Morton, IL 61550.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com