Loretta D. (Crawford) Degraffenreid Loretta Darlene Degraffenreid, went to be with the Lord, September 12, 2018 at the Pioneer Nursing Home in Marceline, Missouri at the age of 81. Loretta was born May 3, 1937 at home in Rondo, Missouri, daughter of Chester and Retta Stokes. She accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior, September 28, 1952.
Loretta worked as a waitress for several years and it was at the cafe that she met her first husband. She would always tell stories of how Buster Crawford was the most handsome man she had ever seen. On November 13, 1960, she was united in marriage to Buster “Bud” Crawford, who preceded her in death in 1996.
To this union four children were born. Kathryn(Leon)Rhoads, of Hugoton, Kansas, Marvin Crawford of Salisbury, Missouri, Martin(Cindy)Crawford of Coyle, Oklahoma and Karen(Shannon)Pearson of Kirksville, Missouri. Loretta and Bud moved to Marshall, Missouri in 1962 where both was employed at Stampers Food, one worked day shift and the other night shift.
Loretta often said, “Looking back she wasn’t sure when they slept, with 2 young children”. Then in 1971, they moved to Green City, Missouri, Loretta was employed at Leewood Nursing Home in Milan, Missouri working the night shift. A few years later, she made the decision to be a stay-at-home Mom and help Bud mow and cut wood, which they did for many years.
During those many years of working together, they had many comical stories to share. On January 1, 2000, Loretta married her childhood sweetheart, Donald Degraffenreid, who preceded her in death in 2009. They enjoyed attending local music shows, playing cards and dominoes for hours at a time.
They were a sweet couple and held hands everywhere they went. Loretta’s favorite pastimes were embroidering, collecting birds (especially hummingbirds), mailing out greeting cards for “all” occasions to family and friends, playing cards and bingo. She is survived by: her children, Kathryn, Marvin, Martin and Karen.
Grandchildren, Emily(Branden) Kielty, Derek Crawford, Laura Crawford, Jessica(Jesse)Meininger, Christopher Shaw, Emily(Justin)Thatcher, Kristin(Ryan) Roehr, Cole(Kashae)Crawford, Jessica(Dustin) Skudlarek, and Brandon(Brittney)Pearson. Eighteen Great-Grandchildren and one more coming soon, one sister, Neoma(Dee)Stacy, one nephew, Jeffrey Stacy and two nieces, Deena Watkins, and Christa Greuter. Loretta was preceded in death by: her parents Chester and Retta Stokes, one brother, Willard Floyd, and one sister, Wilma Jean Fuller.
To Loretta family was everything and she dearly loved her children and grandchildren. Loretta will be sadly missed by all who knew her and loved her. Memorial Contributions maybe made to Mt.
Olivet Cemetery in her memory. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 A.M., Monday, September 17, 2018 at the Ruschmeier Funeral Home in Green City, Missouri. Burial will follow in the Mt.
Olivet Cemetery in Green City. A visitation is scheduled at 9:00 A.M., Monday morning until the time of service.
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