Mary Crisman

MARY CRISMAN

Vinton

Mary Virginia Wyckoff Crisman of Vinton passed away Tuesday, April 29, 2014, at the Vinton Lutheran Home following a long illness. Memorial services will be held this summer.

All who knew Mary Crisman were touched by her intelligence, moved by her compassion and impressed by her dignity. She nurtured, encouraged and protected us. Her strengths and beliefs encouraged us. We are blessed to have had her for as long as we did. The world is a better place because of her. She is truly missed.

Mary was born May 12, 1924, in Vinton, Iowa, the daughter of Seth Nicholas and Ella Jorpeland Wyckoff of Urbana, Iowa. Mary grew up in rural Urbana, attending country school and two years of high school in Urbana before transferring to Vinton. There she took Normal Training, earning her teaching certificate and graduating in 1941. She taught country school until her marriage.

On Oct. 4, 1943, Mary was united in marriage with Eugene Drayton Crisman in St. Louis, Mo. They lived in Fort Smith, Ark., until his deployment with the U.S. Army. Mary and Eugene farmed after the war until their retirement in the 1980s. Mary was a homemaker, an abstractor for Beggs' Abstract Co. in Vinton, and active in the local, regional and national Presbyterian Church. Mary was a youth group co-leader of the Interdenominational Festival Singers. She served on the Presbyterian Church Education board and Synod of Lakes and Prairies. She also served on the State Church Women United board for many years. She was an ordained Deacon and an Elder of the Vinton Presbyterian Church.

Mary is survived by two daughters, Claudia (Jim) Prange of Franklin, Tenn., and Teresa (Dick) Noe of Garrison; daughter-in-law, Judith Crisman of Martinez, Ga.; nine grandchildren, Donna Frater-Gibson of Colorado Springs, Colo., Robert (Jillian) Frater of Anamosa, Kristin Hood of Franklin, Tenn., Stefanie (Marcus) Fountain of Kennesaw, Ga., Alyssa (Gordon) White of Warrenville, S.C., Emily Meeks of Martinez, Ga., Steve (Lorie) Noe of Madison, Ala., Mark (Kimberly) Noe of Vinton and Ryan (Amy) Noe of Garrison; 14 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Lillian Crisman of Vinton; nephews, Ralph (Ann) Wood of Charleston, S.C., and Anthony (Anne) Broccoli of Charlottesville, Va.; grand-niece, Rozalind (Chris) Kabrhel of Belmont, Mass.; and two great-grandnieces.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Eugene; one son, Thomas D. Crisman; granddaughter, Jennifer Crisman; great-grand-daughter, Ashley Noe; her parents; two sisters, Elinor Andrews and Winnifred Broccoli; and brother-in-law, M.W. "Jack" Crisman Jr.

Van Steenhuyse-Russell Funeral Home of Vinton is caring for Mary and her family.

Condolences may be left at www.vsrfh.com.