Jean Crawford

1921 - 2025

Jean Marie Crawford (nee Glaser Samwell) left her long sojourn on earth at 104 years of age. Jean was born in Los Angeles to Marie Elizabeth Glaser (nee Benkert) and Stephen Joseph Glaser. Jean's neighborhood had been part of her grandfather Frank Augustus Benkert's ranch and was later sold to Henry Culver to become Culver City. In the early 1900s, Jean's mother herded cattle near what is now Sunset Boulevard. Jean enjoyed a "roaring twenties" childhood, visiting Venice and Santa Monica Beach, and spending weekends and vacations at a cabin built by her mother and stepdad at Malibu Lake, where she played tennis and swam. She adored her stepdad, Leo Samwell, and loved him like her own father.

Jean graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School in 1939. She worked part-time in several photography studios in Hollywood. During World War II, she worked as an aircraft electrician at Lockheed-Vega in Burbank, once being accidentally electrocuted and breaking her jaw. After the war, she was a professional seamstress in Hollywood, with a few "starlet" clients. Jean met a dashing Navy sailor, William E. Crawford, at a San Diego nightclub in 1945. They were married in Alameda on October 14, 1947, and were together more than 60 years until Bill's death in 2008.

Jean continued to work outside the home as she raised her three children. She was a school cafeteria baker for 20 years, hand-making pizzas, cookies, and fruit pies at several junior high and high schools in Sacramento. She remained a skilled seamstress, sewing children's clothing, draperies, and suits. Jean was always active in her church and community, and her kids participated in church groups, scouts' groups, Little League, dance, and neighborhood clubs.

Jean was a founding member of Centennial United Methodist Church, where she provided financial and social support for over 75 years and volunteered in the rummage room for 45 years. She also gave her time as an election poll volunteer, washed laundry for women's shelters, and helped at the local clothes closet and food bank.

Jean had a sharp mind and a passion for learning. She traveled widely after retirement, visiting China, Australia, the Galápagos, the Amazon, Russia, Europe, Fiji and more. She read ravenously past age 100, listened to audio books when she lost her vision, and participated in book clubs into her final months.

Jean is survived by her children, Kevin Douglas (Louise Chiatovich; Kyle, Linden & Nathan), Karen Marie (Crawford) Edwards (Jessica, Erin), and Kent Lee (Justin, Kayla). In addition to seven grandchildren, Jean leaves nine great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. She had space in her heart for all of us, and she expanded our hearts in turn.

In lieu of donations/flowers, the family requests that bequests be made to: Centennial Methodist Church.