Helen Marie Crawford

Funeral Services will be held on Sunday, January 22, 2017 at 4:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church, 16 Hitt Street, Columbia, MO. A reception will follow the service at the church.

Helen was born June 1, 1929 in Ponca City, Oklahoma, the daughter of Foy Ray and Elizabeth Marie (Walker) Crawford. She moved with her parents and brother, George Edward Crawford, to Columbia at an early age.

Helen graduated from Hickman High School and from the University of Missouri with a degree in Education in 1951. She taught Physical Education in Mexico, MO, then for most of her career at McCluer High School in Florissant, MO. Teaching, physical fitness, and being outdoors were passions of Helen’s her entire life. She spent a memorable summer biking through Europe with friends as a young adult. As a P.E. teacher, she added new, innovative curriculum like camping and archery to her outdoor program.

She continued her love of teaching and sharing experiences with her nieces and nephew and later her great nieces and nephews, all of whom she taught to swim! She was the coach of many youth sports teams throughout the years, including those of her great niece and nephew. Helen was truly devoted to her family and we are all grateful for her love, teachings, and the time we got to spend with her.

Helen was Aquatic Director for many summers at Camp Miniwanca. Even this past summer, she took her great nephews, niece, and sister-in-law for a wonderful weekend to share the beauty and wonder of the magical camp grounds she loved on the Sand Dunes of Lake Michigan.

Helen loved a challenge and was always able to “get things done”. She enjoyed devoting much of her time to projects at the First Presbyterian Church where she was currently on the Property Committee. She was an avid golfer, on a committee to rate courses across the state, and enjoyed her golfing buddies. She represented Missouri in the National Senior Olympic Games in Florida, and was the Columbia Senior Sportswoman of the Year in 1998. Helen was a Special Olympics coach for golf and basketball even this year, and a lover of Mizzou sports. She was a Camp Fire Girls Camp Director, member of Alpha Phi sorority, her friends First Friday Group, the I Dare You Club that she founded, Delta Kappa Gamma Society, and a lover of canoeing, tennis, biking, bowling, and cross country skiing.

In addition to her parents, Helen was preceded in death by her brother, George Crawford. She will be deeply missed and always remembered by her family: nephew Mark Crawford (Wendy), nieces Kimberly Crawford Berni (Tony), and Elizabeth Crawford, sister-in-law Virginia Crawford, and Great-Niece and Nephews Tessa and Hunter Crawford and Emilia, Scott, and Joseph Berni. Thank you, Aunt Helen, for teaching us so much and sharing your zest for Life!

Contributions in her memory are suggested to the First Presbyterian Church, 16 Hitt Street, Columbia, MO 65201; or American Youth Foundation/Camp Miniwanca, (in memory of Helen Crawford) 6357 Clayton Rd, St. Louis, MO 63117 (www.ayf.com).