Margaret Ann "Peg" (Smith) Crandall, 88, of Mason, passed away at home surrounded by family on January 3, 2020. Peg was born February 11, 1931 to Beatrice (Fanson) Smith and Clifford Smith, joining 3 year old twin sisters Frances and Dorothy at home. Growing up in the Aurelius area, her mother was one of the first telephone operators and her father worked on the farm and drove a truck for Miller's Dairy.
During a time her family lived in the Aurelius Baptist Church parsonage, where Peg's job was to mow the lawn, shovel snow and ring the church bell. She loved to sing and took a summer class at MSU and performed with the All State Chorus at Detroit's Fox Theater. As many Mason kids did, she worked for Ware's Drug Store for a time and then for the Al Rice Chevrolet Dealership in Mason where she met her future husband, Elmer. They married Sept. 12, 1953 and lived in a tiny apartment near work, then a tiny house in Eden, 5 miles south of Mason before moving to a larger house north of Mason in 1967, where they remained the rest of their lives.Elmer and his dad built a cottage on Lake George and they would spend much time there over the next 60 years. She loved watching college football and basketball on TV, especially Michigan State University, and was an Earvin Johnson fan before he became "Magic". Both Peg and Elmer were active in 4-H including teaching crafts, sewing and woodworking. They also enjoyed watching their children play sports in 4-H and in school.They loved their gardens, but still found time for an occasional trip to Las Vegas, Arkansas, Alaska, Washington, Georgia, Pennsylvania and other places. Peg liked casinos where Elmer liked sitting and people-watching while she played the slots. Peg dearly loved her grandchildren: Corey, Kristin, Kaitlyn, Andrew, Lyndsay and Kelsey and her great-grandchildren:Keegan, Brett, Jacob, Harper, Hayden, Finley, and Ezra. Peg lost Elmer in 2015, but continued to live a full life and enjoyed her growing family, and treasured her friends, neighbors and relatives.
She is survived by her children: Sandra (Kevin) Bashore of St. Johns, MI, Susan (Gary) Culham of Atlanta, MI, Russell (Kathy) Crandall of Bellingham, WA and Roger(Shannon) Crandall of Port Orchard, WA, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, and extended family.
In lieu of flowers, if you wish, donations would be appreciated to Aurelius Baptist Church, 4419 W. Barnes Rd, Mason, MI 48854; Ingham County Animal Shelter, 600 Buhl St, Mason, MI 48854; Capital Area District Library of Mason, 145 W Ash St, Mason, MI 48854; McLaren Hospice, 2815 S.Pennsylvania Ave Ste 4, Lansing, MI 48910.
