of Marion, AR
July 4, 1929 - April 15, 2017
Sara Frances Cagle Crawford
Sara died at her home in Marion on Saturday, April 15, 2017.
Sara Frances was born on July 4, 1929 to Mr. and Mrs. Forrest Cagle in Louisville, Mississippi. She graduated as Salutatorian of the Louisville High School class of 1947. She received an A.A. degree from East Central Community College and a B.S. degree in Education from Mississippi State University. While at State, she met Ernest Crawford form Marion, Arkansas. They married early in 1950 and came to live in Marion in 1952.
She began her teaching career in September as school librarian at Turrell High School. After three years at Turrell, she taught in the Marion School district at Marion Elementary and in the Senior High for 32 years. Her earliest ambition was to become a teacher. When she was 8 years old, she taught neighborhood children in her back yard.
An active member of the Marion United Methodist Church for over 60 years, she taught several Sunday school classes and served as President of The United Methodist Women three different times.
She and Ernest loved to dance and they belonged to the Hitch and Twirl Round Dance Club for a number of years and also a Ballroom Dance Club named the Silver Slipper Club.
When her two daughters were in Alpha Delta Kappa High School Sorority, she opened her home to meeting and slumber parties. She often entertained by giving showers and parties for friends and people in the community.
An avid reader, she was a member of the Marion Friends of the Library. She presented several book reviews to both Alpha Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma and to West Memphis Friends of the Library. Sara was past president and faithful member of DKG for over 50 years.
A former member of the Order of the Eastern Star, she served as Worthy Matron and several other stations.
In 1987 she retired from teaching and joined the Arkansas and Crittenden County Retired Teachers. She served two different terms as president from 1989-1991 and 2008-2010. She also became a member of the Marion Town and Country Garden Club and served as president. She was inducted into the Marion Rotary Club, Sara became the first woman to be admitted. Later she became the President and also was one of the Assistant District Governors for Rotary District #6150.
Sara joined the Marion Homemakers Club because they said their only purpose was to have a good time!
Sara was known for her generosity, honesty, compassion, and kindness towards everyone. She helped several students with their college expenses and sponsored scholarships because she believed so strongly in education. She has sponsored a child for the past five years from Compassion. Many former students have told her they learned a lot more than what was in their books from Mrs. Crawford. She treated everyone with respect and lived by the Golden Rule. She taught some of the students how to jitter-bug and cha-cha because she believed in having fun along with working hard.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Forrest and Fleda Cagle, her brother James F. Cagle, and her husband of 57 years Ernest Crawford Jr.
She is survived by her daughters, Becky Doyle (Dentie) and Chris Dunn, five grandchildren, Eric Doyle, Brad Doyle, Jessica Stafford, Nathan Dunn and Nicholas Dunn, four great grandchildren, Cody Doyle, Shelby Doyle, Isabella Jones and Samantha Jones, two sisters, Rebecca Carson of Louisville, MS; and Dorothy McDaniel of Marion, AR; a brother, Steve Cagle of Louisville, MS.
Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until service time at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 at the Marion United Methodist Church with burial following at Crittenden Memorial Park in Marion, Arkansas.
Memorials may be sent to any of her favorite charities: Grace Mission in Paragould, AR; or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, The Salvation Army, The 8th Street Mission and The Marion United Methodist Church.
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16 Condolence(s)
Merilou Mcdaniel
Saturday, July 4, 2020
💙💚💜love and miss you and all the stores you told me about your life🌼 I cherish every moment we shared and remember you ALWAYS Dance in heaven with Earnest . 🌼🌸🌻
Elizabeth Kitsinger
Friday, April 21, 2017
Mrs Crawford was a delightful person to teach next door to for several years. When My 1st husband and I started teaching at the High School, Mrs.Crawford was one of the teachers who made us feel welcomed. Coach Murphy and I really appreaciated all of her kindness she extended to us to make us feel welcomed and part of the the faculty. When she retired, the hallway was not the same. She will be missed but not forgotten. Love you and thank you for all your kindness Mrs. Crawford, Elizabeth Murphy Kitsinger
Richie Olive
Thursday, April 20, 2017
My condolences to Mrs. Crawford's family. She was a great teacher. I can imagine her doing the cha-cha in heaven now...
Sheena M Powers-Williamson
Thursday, April 20, 2017
It certainly was an honor to have known Mrs. Crawford. She was full of life. I have memories of her class that I often share, ie. "Fruit basket turnover." As a youngster, I delivered Memphis Press-Scimitar newspapers to your parent's home. I recall one afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Crawford sharing the family's dog tricks (I believe the dog's name was Sparky) with me. It is those little things that stick with you. Mrs. Crawford was certainly an "Icon". I consider it an honor to have known her. She certainly lead by example and was genuine to her students. What a mentor for so many of us.
Fellow educator, Sheena Powers-Williamson - Class of '79
Laura Richards
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
My prayers and condolences to Mrs. Crawford family. She was one of my favorite teachers. you just don't find people like her anymore. May God Bless you all.
Anne Creekmore
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
You were an amazing teacher and wonderful lady. My special memory is my first year teaching in Marion when you told me to call you Sara because I was a teacher, too. I could never do that because I respected you too much. All kids need to experience a teacher of your quality. You were and are a great inspiration. You are missed.
Ginger Nemenz
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Praying for comfort for you all. I am so glad I got to see and talk to her before she passed. Mrs. Crawford was always like a grandma to me growing up, and she will be missed by so many. Love you all so much
Michael Allen
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Mrs. Crawford you were one of my favorite teachers growing up and you taught a lot to me about life. Becky and Chris I'm sorry for your loss but we know she is dancing with your Daddy in Heaven!
kim
Monday, April 17, 2017
Mrs. Crawfordv you are a wonderful lady and touched more lives than you will ever know. You will truly be missed
Amber Reed
Monday, April 17, 2017
Dear Crawford family. Heaven got a special Angel this week... she was full of grace and love. I will miss just knowing she isn't there but know she will be looking down watching over us all. Thank you GOD for such a GODLY lady to be my 1st neighbor and Mother to my friend Becky and Chris. â¤ï¸
Tina Hill
Monday, April 17, 2017
Mrs. Doyle & Family
I just wanted to reach out and say how sorry I am to hear of your mother's passing. She was such a great teacher and inspiration to us kids. She will truly be missed by a lot of people.
May God be with you in this time of need. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Yours Truly
Tina Hill
Leiona Cook and Robert Reed
Monday, April 17, 2017
Dear Chris,
Your Mother was a very loved and accomplished lady. I have loved getting to know her through our friendship. I know where you get your smiles and energy from. I can always feel so much love when you talk about your parents and how proud you are to be one of the beautiful daughters they raised to be a success as well.
Words can never change the moments we lose our parents. I pray God consoles you, Nate, Nick, Dan and family through your loss.
Remember the words to the song "If you could see me now". I know Mr. and Mrs. Crawford are rejoicing with our Heavenly Father. What a better time to rejoice than on Easter.
We love you Chris and family. God Bless you all.
Leiona and Robert
Vicki Saig
Monday, April 17, 2017
Dear Becky and Chris,
I wanted you both to know how dear your mother was to my family. She truly was a special person, as was Mr. Ernest. She will always have a very special place in my heart.
Vicki L. Saig
Amy (Payne) Sisson
Monday, April 17, 2017
I am so sorry to hear of the death of Mrs. Crawford. She was such a sweet lady and never met a stranger. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Hester Carey
Monday, April 17, 2017
Never knew she was a 4th of July firecracker birthday girl. She had quite the personality. I remember our last visit when were at West Cancer Center the same day. She was concerned about how I was doing. She was doing the best she could under the circumstances (her words) and just trying to plan ahead to make things easier on everyone else. Always thinking of others. That's how I think of her. Putting others ahead of herself. Full of stories I never got to hear, but the ones I heard always made me smile.
She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
O.D. & Nannette Baker
Monday, April 17, 2017
Mrs. Crawford will dearly be missed. I thank God that we visited with her a week ago. We will always savor each memory that she shared with us. She was a wonderful school teacher, she taught us both, as well as our siblings.
Mrs. Crawford looked forward to my Christmas candies each year.
I know she is having a grand time in Heaven with her family & Virginia Harlan.
This is not goodbye- it's, see you soon!