Shirley Anne McNeill Crawford

October 20, 1934 ~ July 27, 2011

Shirley Anne Crawford entered into her new life in heaven on Wednesday, July 27, 2011, at the age of 76 at Adventist Medical Center - Hanford, following a six day battle with cancer, surrounded by her family and friends.

Shirley was the second of three siblings born to her parents, Annie Elliott Matthews McNeill and D.A. McNeill, in Holly Grove, Arkansas on October 20, 1934.

Her father was a U.S. postman, and her mother was a homemaker. Shirley had fond memories of growing up in the small southern town, helping at their family's drugstore, serving ice cream or sodas and having fun with her friends.

She graduated as Valedictorian of her Holly Grove class of 1952 and stayed in close contact with her classmates and loved them like brothers and sisters. She excelled in school as Future Homemakers of America vice president, Panther yearbook editor, cheerleader, homecoming royalty, basketball co-captain and a member of the Glee, Beta and Journalism clubs, to name just a few of her favorite memories.

After graduating from high school, Shirley attended Mississippi State College for Women (MWU), graduating in 1956 with a major in business education. She was a member of the Pi Omega Pi National Honorary Business Education Fraternity and served on the House Committee, Prom Committee and Rogues. She was also secretary-treasurer, president and lighting technician of her class, a Homecoming page; and a representative to National Convention; and she participated in Jesters, the Yearbook Club, The spectator Reporter, the Arkansas Club reporter, Program Chairman, the Commerce Club, Future Teacher of America and Kappa Delta Epsilon.

After graduating from college, Shirley worked in banking in downtown Memphis, werhe she met Navy pilot Jim Hickerson and was married in 1958. The couple traveled, visited the White House and met famous American leaders and astronauts before they moved to Kings County in 1961 and resided at the newly constructed Naval Air Station Lemoore. When Jim's A7 jet was shot down over North Vietnam in 1967 and he was held as a POW for many years she built a sisterhood with other

POW wives and stayed in contact with them until her passing.

Shirley met her soul mate, best friend and Navy veteran Don Crawford in Hanford. Don was preceded in

death by his loving wife of 22 years, Virginia Frank Crawford. They had three sons, Tom, Jeff and Kevin.

Shirley and Don married in 1973. They had one daughter, Holly. Shirley was surrounded by their love over the years and cherished many great memories with all her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She worked for Don's planning consultant firm, Grunwald, Crawford and Associates, which prepared the first general plan for the city of Hanford.

Shirley owned and operated the Hanford's City Hostess Welcome Service. Later, she worked as the office manager for thee Hanford Chamber of Commerce for eight years, retiring in 1993. She and Don loved giving back to their community, serving on many boards and projects.

Shirley and Don enjoyed their trips to their favorite vacation spot in San Simeon, California, as well as mountain trips to Mineral King, and enjoyed her glass of white wine with Don. She loved America, the Fresno State Bulldogs, Arkansas Razorbacks, college football and all sports; and friends and family were amazed at her memory of current and past sports stats. She was a collector of squirrel memorabilia, as they reminded her of her childhood in Holly Grove. She carried on the tradition and love of southern cooking that she inherited from her mother and passed it on to her daughter, Holly.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents and older sister, Susie Creed.

She is survived by her daughter, Holly and husband Johnny Nickell of Hanford; three sons, Tom Crawford of Santa Barbara; Jeff Crawford of Fairbanks, Alaska, and fiancée Lynn Crance of Phoenix, AZ; and Kevin Crawford of Hanford; daughters-in-law, Tami Crawford of Visalia and Theresa Crawford of Redondo Beach; brother, Dan NcNeill and wife, Ellen of Walnut Ridge, AR; grandson Eric Crawford and girlfriend Andrea Jessup of Visalia; granddaughters Melissa Stewart of Torrance, Jojauna Doctors of Denver, CO; great grandsons William Crawford of Visalia and Tanner and Logan Stewart of Torrance; her loving dogs Susie and Tiller; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; and her "adopted" fire department family whom she loved as her own children and grandchildren, as well as many friends across the country.

A Celebration of Life Service will be at 11 a.m on Saturday, August 6, at People's Funeral Chapel in Hanford. A memorial website has been created to post photos and memories of Shirley online at www.peoplesfuneralchapel.com.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Kings Regional Health Foundation, 1021 N. Douty St., Hanford, CA 93230; or to the Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.

Arrangements entrusted to People's Funeral Chapel, 501 N. Douty Street, Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 584-5591.