Marian E. Crull

Marian E. “Babe” Crull, age 87, of Chillicothe, passed away on Thursday, November 16, 2023 at Proctor Hospital in Peoria.

Marian was born on November 22, 1935 in Sparland, IL to Marvin and Bertha (Heneger) Smith.  She married Harry E. Crull on June 30, 1954 in Chillicothe.

Surviving are her husband, Harry; her children, Gary (Julie) Crull of Chillicothe, Chris (Greg) Perham of Dunlap and Dan Crull of Chillicothe; her grandchildren, Jeremy (Jamie Sue) Crull, Jamie (Wes) McFall, Jeff (Casey) Crull, Matthew (Jen) Perham, Faith (Steve) Gray and Joni (David) Chenault; 23 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Bob Smith of Canton and Jim (Shirley) Smith of Bradford; her sister, Connie Smith of Chillicothe, whom Marian raised as her own from the age of 5 years old; and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and two sisters.

Marian worked for Truitt Matthews First National Bank for over 15 years and worked for Rivertown Services with Harry.  She was a member of the Congregational Church and later the Chillicothe First United Methodist Church.  She was a member of the Sparland Girls Club, the Chillicothe Optimist Club, the Red Hat Society, Pearce Community Center and was a founding member of Community Needs Agency.  She enjoyed scrapbooking, doing puzzles and was an avid reader.  Harry and Marian enjoyed square dancing together and have square danced in all four Hawaiian Islands.  They also started the Chilli Cast Offs down at Shore Acres.  She was also a historian, often doing genealogy research and historical research for the local organizations she was involved in.

Services will be held on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 1pm at the Chillicothe First United Methodist Church.  Rev. Ron Martz will officiate.  Visitation will be on Monday, November 20, 2023 from 5pm to 7pm at Weber-Hurd Funeral Home in Chillicothe as well as one hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the church.  Memorials in her name may be made to the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital or Illinois Cancer Care.