Carolyn “Bootsie” Faye Crane Shaw passed peacefully into eternity Sunday morning in the comfort of her home. Bootsie was born on January 2, 1933 in Carbondale, PA to Paul W. and Olive Wheeler Crane. While serving as a nanny on Sea Island one summer in the late 50’s she met the father of her children and became a permanent resident.
In addition to raising her four children, she was the nanny, babysitter, childcare provider and nurturer for many island children during her lifetime. She took a brief break when she met and married “Charlie” who whisked her back to Pennsylvania for a few years and then back to the south and a few more charges as nanny for a while. She was very active in the St. Simons Island Jaycettes and was the nursery keeper at St. Simons Presbyterian Church for many years in the 60’s, again influencing and encouraging many children on the island. When able she attended Frederica Presbyterian Church on the north end of the island.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Olive, brothers C.B. “Jimmy” Crane, Paul Wheeler Crane, Gerald “Jerry” H. Crane, Robert “Bobby” Crane, sister Eunice Hope King, husband Charles Jacob Shaw and her beloved and dearly missed grandsons Miles Hamilton Brooks and Gerald “Trey” H. Edwards, III.
Bootsie is survived by the father of her children, Gerald “Jerry” H. Edwards, daughters Gennene Edwards Brooks (Mike) of St. Simons Island, Robin Edwards Marsili (Gino) of Redding, CT, Carolyn Paige Edwards of Fairburn, GA and son Gerald “Jay” H. Edwards, II (Sheila) of Brunswick. Beloved grandchildren Ana Brooks Josephs (Jonathan) of Charlotte, NC, Maddie Brooks Barry (Daniel) of Lynchburg, VA, Vincent Marsili of Redding, CT, Caylin and Hamilton Edwards of Fairburn, GA She is also survived by 2 great grandchildren, Zion and Elias Josephs of Charlotte, NC and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
There will be a Celebration of Life Thursday evening at 6:00 in the chapel at Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home with a reception to follow. Interment will follow at a later date in Clifford, PA.
Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. www.edomillerandsons.com
