Viola Mae Crawford

1935 - 2011

Viola Mae Deaton Crawford, 75, a resident of Baytown, Texas, passed peacefully on Friday, May 20, 2011.
Viola was born in Jacksonville Dec. 7, 1935, the daughter of Madrona and Edward Deaton.
She is survived by her four children, Annie Herndon and husband Ed of Fort Worth, Texas, Andrew Crawford and wife Joyce of Friendswood, Texas, Alice Rodgers and husband William of Wichita Falls, Texas, and Arnold Crawford and wife Darlene of Baytown, Texas; 11 grandchildren, Travis Herndon, Marshall Herndon, Cameron Crawford, Clarke Crawford, Chris Rodgers, Kyle Rodgers, Elizabeth Rodgers, Jennifer Crawford, James Crawford and twins Jessica and Jolene Crawford; one great-grandchild, Brylee Mae Tagle; brother, Bill Deaton and wife Betty of Oswego; sister-in-law, Mary Deaton of Beardstown; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Viola was preceded in death by her parents, Madrona and Edward Deaton; and brother, Al Deaton.
Viola graduated from Newton Bateman Memorial High School in Jacksonville in 1954.
She married James Crawford of Tenaha, Texas, in 1955, and had three children in Illinois and then moved to Texas in the early '60s where her last child was born. The family moved to Baytown, Texas, in 1967 where she resided until her death. Viola had worked for the Goose Creek ISD where she retired after 27 years of service and she was also a member of St. John's United Methodist Church in Baytown, Texas.
A visitation for family and friends will be Monday from 6-8 p.m. at Sterling-White Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Sterling-White Funeral Home, with burial following at Sterling-White Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Cameron, Clarke and James Crawford, Marshall and Travis Herndon and Kyle Rodgers. Donation may be sent in Viola's honor to the following: Ahina Hossihno, translation "Watching over the elders," Personal Care Home at 4518 36th Street Dickinson, TX 77539. To send the family condolences please visit www.sterlingwhite.com.