Mary Jean Crawford

When someone is identified as a natural leader, certain images come to mind. First thoughts are of a no-nonsense, tough-minded, dedicated and disciplined person. This description accurately fits Mary Jean Crawford who was indeed a born manager. She will be remembered as being highly organized, practical and realistic. She was a person who always carried a strong sense of duty with her throughout her life. Possessed with traditional “old school” morals, Mary was an individual who clearly communicated to those around her just who she was and what she was all about. Everyone acquainted with Mary knew her as a well-respected woman who was a stable force in her community.

Mary was born on April 21, 1940 in San Francisco, California. Her parents were Roy and Catherine Wade. Mary was raised in San Francisco, California. Even as a youngster, Mary learned to be objective and decisive. Her faith in the principles of authority and dependability was something that she carried with her throughout her life.

As a young girl, Mary was able to put her natural abilities to work. She was a bit like the sergeant of the family, helping to make sure that the others did what they should do and that they avoided those things they weren’t supposed to. In other words, she liked to organize and direct. Mary was raised with one sibling. She had a younger brother named Roy. Mary had an inborn appreciation for the order in the family, allowing for the oldest members to be the most respected and to take on the most responsibility. For Mary, this was a natural order of life, one she gladly embraced.

In school, Mary was as close to being a model student as one could possibly imagine. She sought to achieve perfect attendance in all of her classes. She would eagerly complete her homework, and often put in extra study time when she felt it was necessary. A logical and focused thinker, Mary was always good at following directions and meeting her schedules, whether they were set by her teachers or were self-imposed. Mary’s personal motto could well have been, “Do it right the first time.” She graduated from Lowell High School in San Francisco, California in 1958. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was English. The teacher she enjoyed learning from the most was Jack Anderson. Mary was an accomplished debator and had won several trophies with the Forensic Society team.

Mary was sociable and approachable. Because she was always so straightforward in how she approached relationships, friends and family knew that what they saw was always what they got. She enjoyed the camaraderie of being with a group of friends. When Mary was a member of a group, her interaction worked to keep the others grounded. She wasn’t afraid to confront her friends and, when necessary, she challenged them to stick to the task at hand. Those close to Mary came to expect her high standards of performance. While growing up, some of her best friends were Pat Perna, Donna Lauritzen, Vince Fernandez, and Caroline. Later in life, she became friends with Connie DeMar, Estelle, and Richard James.

An objective and conscientious individual, Mary reveled in the security of her family. On October 3, 1981 Mary exchanged wedding vows with James H. Crawford, Jr. at the MGM Grand Hotel in Reno, Nevada. One of Mary’s most endearing qualities was her uncanny ability to remember important dates and anniversaries, and her unending enthusiasm for organizing a celebration for her family and friends.

Mary was ever watchful of her children. She worried about them and was deeply concerned for their development as they grew up. She maintained a firm hand in their upbringing. Mary would give her stamp of approval to their requests, as long as she could see how they might benefit. She also had the ability to enforce the rules as needed to ensure that her children were properly raised. Mary was blessed with two daughters, Cathy and Tricia. She was also blessed with six grandchildren, Ian, Jennifer, Stephanie, Daniel, Shanna and Cassidy.

Being a hard worker who praised efficiency, Mary was always striving to make improvements where they were necessary. She was able to analyze situations and problems, keeping everything and everyone on track. An excellent project supervisor, Mary was a person who could quickly make decisions based on the information available. She worked cooperatively and expected the same from her colleagues. In both her personal and professional environments, Mary upheld her standards. Her primary occupation was as a computer center supervisor. She was employed for over 20 years as a civil servant for the U.S. Navy and Air Force. Mary was a team player who certainly lived out the motto of “give me a job, and I will get it done.”

Mary approached her leisure time in the same manner that she approached her life. A person who enjoyed being neat and orderly and one who understood the nature of things, she appreciated the hours she was able to devote to her various hobbies. Her favorite pursuits were reading, crossword puzzles, creative art, gardening, travelling and cooking. Mary was content to enjoy her favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

Playing by the rules was a natural thing for Mary to do in life and that carried over to her enjoyment of sports. Tops on her list were watching her daughters play sports.

Being generous with her time and energy, Mary liked to belong to a variety of groups and organizations. She was a vocal leader who enjoyed being a part of things. Her desire to uphold traditions and her ability to take charge of any type of project made her a tremendous asset. In high school, Mary was a member of the the Forensic Society. Throughout her later years, Mary was an active member of the Grandmothers for Peace.

A civic-minded person, Mary was usually ready to jump in and help with community activities. She was the type of person who could masterfully organize events and projects and then see to it that they were run in an efficient and timely manner. Politically, Mary was a strong supporter of the Democratic Party. During these years, Mary applied her analytical intellect to problem solving and so was an asset on most committees.

As someone who placed a high value on showing gratitude, Mary could graciously accept a “thank you” extended to her by those she helped. However, individual recognition wasn’t a motivating force for Mary; rather, when she saw that there was a need to get something done, she was more than willing to give her time and energy in order to see it accomplished. Some of her most prestigious awards included multiple service awards as a civilian employee with the U.S. Air Force.

When it came time to travel or take a vacation, Mary used her scheduling expertise to make sure everyone and everything was ready to go. That also meant that she made certain no single person was overworked in putting the trip together. Mary had a knack for making sure that everyone who was involved had their specific tasks and that those tasks were completed. Favorite vacations included Greece, Italy, Ireland, Cancun Mexico, Aruba, Hawaii, and many trips with her family.

Mary was a lover of animals and cherished her pets. One of Mary’s favorites was Candy, a Cocker Spaniel-Poodle mix dog. They were best friends for 16 years. Her family was rounded out by her cat Gertrude.

When Mary’s retirement finally arrived in 1998, she was well prepared. She used her critical evaluation skills to make sure that every detail had been preplanned and attended to. Her new life involved relocating to Willow Glen, California. In retirement, she found new pleasure in spending more time with her family and friends at her Placerville vacation home. In many ways, Mary loved retirement. It provided her with the opportunity to catch up with her friends, attend functions and group outings, and tackle new interesting activities.

Mary passed away on March 6, 2015 at Valley Medical Center in Santa Clara, California due to pulmonary disease. She is survived by her daughters Cathy and Tricia; her step-daughter Nancy; her step-sons Jim (Anna), Jon, and Steve (Penny); and her grandchildren Ian, Jennifer, Stephanie, Daniel, Shanna, and Cassidy. Services were held at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in San Francisco, California. Mary was laid to rest in Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, California.

All who knew her would agree that Mary was a pillar of the community. She lived her life with her feet firmly on the ground. She had a strong work ethic, was pragmatic in her thoughts and acts, and constantly sought the means for self-improvement. She was willing to share her ideas and knowledge for the benefit of others, so that they could accomplish more in their lives. Mary Jean Crawford did her best to ensure that her family, friends, loved ones, co-workers, and everyone whose life she touched was given the chance to become a better person.