Obituary of Margaret Crawford

Margaret Helen Utter Crawford was born in Monett, MO on February 23, 1908 to Elijah Grant Utter and Sarah Cordelia Moore Utter. She passed from this life on November 6, 2008. In 1926, at age 18, she married Fred N. Crawford and moved to the Sapulpa area. They were to spend 70 years of marriage before Fred passed away in 1996. Margaret was blessed with 4 children, 14 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. Perhaps her greatest accomplishment came in 1987 when, at the age of 79, Margaret went back to school to obtain her GED. She, along with her 19 year old granddaughter, attended a program offered at Broken Arrow's South Intermediate High School. At the time she was awarded her diploma, Margaret was the oldest person ever to have obtained the GED in the Tulsa/Broken Arrow programs (although she believed someone had 'outdone her' and a person older than she later claimed that distinction). Aside from caring for her family, Margaret's passion was music. She taught herself to play music by ear at an early age, and played until 6 weeks before her death. Margaret taught music to handicapped students for a number of years, as well as serving her church as the full-time pianist. Margaret's only true job outside the home was as the piano accompanist for a Tulsa dance studio, a job that lasted 16 years. She always described her years working in the dance studio with the children as "more fun than work." During this time, Margaret also was often called to sit in on many 'jam sessions' with several well-known Tulsa musicians. Her love of music was passed on to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, of whom a number have gone on to become quite accomplished in classical music. Margaret faced great adversity in her life and throughout remained strong. Her mother died when Margaret was very young. She spent her adolescent years moving from one extended family member's home to another, often separated from her siblings and her father. Through all this, she developed the strong will, tenacity and can-do spirit that remained with her until she left this world. Margaret's first son, Freddie, was born with birth defects which, doctors believed, would surely mean he would not live, and if he did survive, he would never walk. Margaret steadfastly fought to find help for her baby. In the early 30's she, along with her baby son, caught a train to the Mayo Clinic in Minneapolis to visit doctors who would give her vital information regarding her son's physical therapy requirements. Back at home, Margaret and her husband worked daily with their son. Utilizing home-made tricycles and other devices that her husband had made, Freddie not only gained the ability to walk, but to go to school, work and live a full and productive life. Margaret's son Wayne served in the Korean War, and later retired from the FAA. He and his wife, Ruth, currently reside in California. Her daughter, Jo Ann, served as a missionary in the Far East and now lives in Florida. Margaret's youngest son, Paul, is a manager in Tulsa, and he and his wife Jacki are long-time Broken Arrow residents. Margaret outlived her husband, as well as her son, Freddie, all of her siblings, and suffered the unfortunate loss of two grandchildren to cancer. Margaret celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends on February 23 of this year. The day was proclaimed "Margaret Crawford Day" in the City of Broken Arrow. Margaret delighted in playing the piano for the crowd and enjoyed, in her words, "the perfect [birthday] party." Truly there were many other triumphs over adversity in Margaret's 100 years. Perhaps the greatest is that she remained independent in her home until the age of 100 years and 7 months, requiring only 1 pill a daybut otherwise healthyand her memory stayed 'sharp as a tack' virtually right up to the end. Margaret would always say that her secret to a good life and her source of strength throughout her life, was always her faith in Christ. She held fast to that faith until she passed away - uttering prayers until she slipped away to be with her Lord. Margaret will lie in state Sunday, November 9, from noon to 8:00 p.m. with a funeral service being held 2:00 p.m. Monday, November 10, both at Ninde Woodland Funeral Home located at 5757 S. Memorial. Interment to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. www.ninde.com Ninde Woodland 918.728.8500