Iris Lynn Crelot

Iris Lynn McDonald Furlong Andrews Crelot, 95, of Montgomery, Alabama, passed away on January 3, 2024. She ended a life well lived, full of grace, contentment, peace, and joy, and she was always ready with a hug and a kind word.

Mrs. Crelot was a member of the inaugural class at Montgomery Bible School, graduating from there and later from Alabama Christian College. She was talented in art and enjoyed drawing, including plans for several houses. She got her real estate license to further enjoy this interest. She was good with numbers like her father and worked as an accountant for the State of Alabama until she was 70. Customers would ask for her, knowing that she was fair, kind, and patient.

Iris was born April 4, 1928, to the late Clara and John McDonald. She was preceded in death by her husbands Thomas F. Furlong, James Andrews, and Rick Crelot; sister Jane (Cllifford) Yeldell; and sister Priscilla (J. R.) Daniels. She is survived by a brother, John Lloyd (Gayle) McDonald; son Daniel (Marilyn) Furlong and their daughter Courtney Furlong; a daughter, Emily Furlong (Palmer) Dauphin, and their children, David Gillis, Cary Gillis, Lydia (David) Eguebe, and Daniel Gillis plus blended family; son, Clark (Rachel) Furlong and their children, Justin (Aleecia) Furlong, Aaron (Lindsey) Furlong, Emily Wilson, and Joe (Zoe) Wilson; a daughter, Amy Furlong (Kenny) Stamatis, and their children, Teaven (Melissa) Stamatis, Billy Quinn, Greer (Kayla) Stamatis, and Teal (Travis) Helton. She is also survived by ten great-grandchildren: Ella and Connor Furlong, McKenzie Stamatis, Leighton, Addison, and Jude Stamatis, Knox and Wrigley Jo Helton, and Nehemiah and Ezra Eguebe.

Moms or Momsy, as she was known to family and friends, was most proud of her children and grandchildren and was devoted to them. She was very generous with her children and loved to give them gifts or take them on trips. She was the matriarch that kept the family close and loved, and she left a legacy of strong Christian faith, values, and family devotion.

Iris was a faithful member of the church of Christ, most recently attending University church of Christ and Panama St. church of Christ. She was a devout Christian and her love for Christ and doing right was reflected throughout her life. She was known for her giving spirit and love for others by contributing regularly to Faulkner University, a place she loved that her parents helped start, and by contributing to missionaries and orphanages. Moms Orphanage (where Lydia and Daniel lived) in Kumasi, Ghana, was named for her because of her generosity toward them.

Memorial contributions may be made to Faulkner University’s Bible Department or to Panama Street church of Christ for Moms Orphanage, Kumasi, Ghana.

A visitation for Iris will be held Saturday, February 3, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Leak Memory Chapel, 945 Lincoln Road, Montgomery, AL 36109, followed by a funeral service at 2:00 PM.