Barbara Crowley

Barbara Ann (Tomb) Crowley passed away on January 2, 2025. She was born on September 23, 1946 in Eldora, Iowa. Barbara was the only child of John and Olive (Wilson) Tomb, who owned and operated Eldora's Service Printing Company for many years. She was a girl scout and learned to swim in Pine Lake. Barbara graduated from Eldora High School in 1964. She counted herself blessed that her childhood friends, Sherry (Slater) Crowley and Kathryn (Bowman) Crowley, would eventually become her sisters after all three Eldora girls married brothers.

Barbara attended the University of Northern Iowa where she received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Spanish. She met and married John Michael Crowley in 1967 at UNI and they thereafter devoted their lives to each other and raising a family. John and Barbara relocated to Colorado, where two daughters, Erin (Pogue) and Heather (Caramanica), were born. The family subsequently resided in Arlington, Texas and eventually moved to Cypress, Texas because of John's job transfers.

Barbara was a Certified Public Accountant and retired from Shell Oil as a property accountant in 2003. After she retired, she became the world's best grandmother to her four grandchildren, Katelyn Caramanica, Macie Caramanica, Delanie Pogue, and Quentin Pogue. Barbara watched all four grandchildren as infants, which allowed her daughters to return to work worry-free. Her grandchildren credit her with baking amazing cookies, sewing the best Halloween costumes, and giving the warmest hugs.

Barbara loved animals. She and John bred, raised, and showed Great Danes for many years. However, she was happy to spend her final years with a rotund rescue dog named Sherman who would fight with her over a red bouncy ball.

The family will be hosting an open house for family and friends in celebration of her life on January 11, 2025 from 2:00-6:00 at 15207 Colecrest Ct. Cypress, Texas 77429. Barbara will be cremated and will be interred with her parents at Sheppard Cemetery in Union, Iowa in July 2025. Details for the graveside service in Iowa will be shared once finalized.

Barbara was an avid reader and loved the scent of Iowa lilacs. Walt Whitman's poem, When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd, is a reminder of the love and kindness she shared with her husband, daughters, sons-in-law (Justin Pogue and Alfred Caramanica), and grandchildren. She will be missed.

When lilacs last in the dooryard bloom'd,

And the great star early droop'd in the western sky in the night,

I mourn'd, and yet shall mourn with ever-returning spring.

Ever-returning spring, trinity sure to me you bring,

Lilac blooming perennial and drooping star in the west,

And thought of him I love.