Rochelle Virginia Crawford

Rochelle Virginia Crawford was born on January 5, 1934 in Lincoln, NE to Ruth Virginia and Forrest Reed. They moved to Kansas City in 1940. She attended Southwest High School where she met the love of her life Frank Crawford and graduated in 1952. She attended both University of Kansas and University of Missouri to be close to Frank, graduating from the KU School of Nursing with her BSN. She was a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. She taught in Texas and Delaware, returning to Kansas City and worked for St. Luke’s Main Hospital.

Rochelle was the proud parent and devoted mother to four children: Rob Crawford, Ken Crawford, Phil Crawford, and Lisa Virginia Reynolds (Tom). She supported her children in many ways including PTA board member, Great Books teacher, Scout leader, and Fraternity/Sorority Mother’s clubs. She rarely missed a swim meet, golf tournament, football game, or Special Olympics track meet. She hosted post game parties so everyone felt like they were part of the family.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Frank of 56 years, and her son Rob.

She adored her three beautiful granddaughters: Paige Buckless (Mike), Natalie Bonolis (Paul), and Kendall Crawford, and four amazing grandsons: Joey Crawford, Tony Crawford, Marcus Reynolds, and Franky Reynolds. She was so very blessed with three great-granddaughters: Peyton, Cameron, and Blake. They were all the light of her life.

See The Love

By Phil Crawford

A moment I’ll always remember with my mother

A rocking chair next to my parent’s bed

Reading to me a history lesson

A Norse explorer named Eric the Red

Mom was always there to raise our spirits and open our minds

She fought to make our lives meaningful, by being supportive and kind

She helped raise a menagerie of pets, guinea pigs, a chameleon, a dog, and some cats

Breathing life into a newborn kitten, a remarkable memory at that

Supporting the troops at Y football games, swim meets, Special Olympics, and junior golf tourneys

A bridge tournament or two is what she would do to further enjoy the journey

Enjoying the good life at the Ozarks was something that made her so proud

She and my dad would take to the fad and mix in with the in crowd

When dad passed away, I wondered how it would play

With the memory lapses and strains of old age

She was luckier than most cause her daughter manned the post

And gave meaning to her life that last decade

Love is patient, love is kind, love gives life meaning, you won’t be left behind

And love is what comes from above

When it reaches down and touches you, no matter what you’re going thru

You must always See The Love

Love lives beyond you and makes others lives better, it flies thru the air like a dove

It reaches the skies and makes truth out of lies

You must always See The Love

So while it’s hard not be sad at a world that can be bad

Good memories will embrace like a glove

The goodness that beat in her heart will make us all part

Of that wondrous feeling, See The Love