Jacqueline Mary Cripps

Jacqueline Mary Cripps Battle Creek Jacqueline Mary Cripps, age 86. Beloved wife of Donald Cripps, died peacefully on October 20, 2009, at Evergreen Senior Care and Rehab Center. She was born on January 22, 1923, the only child of John and Marguerite (Rowe) Lee in Sydney, Australia. She attended Rose Bay Convent School in Sydney and completed a business program upon graduation from high school. In her youth, she was an outstanding tennis player. She possessed a beautiful soprano voice and performed on the radio. At a dance during World War II, she met Donald Cripps, a young American soldier on leave while he recovered from his war wounds. Their courtship blossomed and they were married three months later on August 18, 1943 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in downtown Sydney. Donald was repatriated immediately after the war but Jackie and son Dennis waited for a year before being allowed to join him in Battle Creek. She was a totally involved wife and mother, serving as a Girl Scout leader; volunteer school secretary at St. Joseph Catholic elementary; school board secretary at both St. Joseph Catholic elementary and St. Philip Catholic Central high school. She was also an active member of the St. Joseph Church Altar Society. Jackie enjoyed hobbies that included golf, sewing, traveling and reading. She above all, loved being with her husband, children and grandchildren. She instilled in them all a love of reading, the adventure of travel, and the enjoyment of the world around them. She will always be remembered for her generous nature and her joyous laughter. Surviving is Donald, her husband of sixty-six years; son, Dennis (Sherry) Cripps of Colorado Springs; daughters, Jeanine (Frank) Skeltis and Anne (Harry) Yerby of Battle Creek; and Robyn (Robert) Cronin of Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania. Her grandchildren are Douglas Cripps, Kimberly and Philip Skeltis; Amy, Ellen and Michael Cronin; Meg and Andrew Yerby; and Dane Cripps, her great-grandson. Also surviving are numerous cousins, especially her dear cousin Adele (Robert) Shook of Fulton. She was preceded in death by her parents. Visitation will held Sunday from 2 to 4:00 p.m. and 6 to 8:00 p.m. at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home with the recitation of the Rosary at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, October 26, 2009, at St. Joseph Catholic Church with The Rev. Robert F. Creagan officiating. Interment will be at Fort Custer National Cemetery. The family request that memorial donations be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society of St. Joseph Catholic Church, 61 N. 23rd St., Battle Creek, MI 49015.