Loretta Crawley

1924 - 2021

Loretta Crawley
Loretta Crawley, 96, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, February 16, 2021. She was born on July 24, 1924 in Morrison Bluff, AR to Joseph Kleck and Ida (Werner) Kleck. Loretta was born the 4th of ten children who worked on the family farm until moving to Fort Smith in 1942 to work as a nanny for a Fort Smith family during wartime. From there she worked at Woods Manufacturing. She attended Immaculate Conception Church where she met her future husband, Milton Crawley. After marrying in 1948, they went on to have six children. In later years, she worked at Piggly-Wiggly and later at Winton's IGA, before retiring and finally having some fun.
Loretta was an energetic, upbeat and outgoing person. After her retirement in 1985, she spent her days traveling with her friends, dancing, gardening and caring for an elderly aunt-in-law and being a housekeeper for Jack Ragon. She could always be counted on for anything and was always there to lend a helping hand.
She was preceded in death by her parents; father of her children, Milton Crawley; one son, Michael Crawley; two sons in law, Christopher Marchese and David Young; five siblings, Lawrence Kleck, Hilda Kleck, Agnes Lensing, Aggie Lensing and Wilfred Kleck; six brothers in law, Ed Lensing (Agnes), Charles lensing (Aggie), Leonard Huck, Paul Lehnen, Leo Erman and Sonny Walbe (Mary).
Survivors include one son, Kenneth Crawley and wife Mary of Greenwood; four daughters, Debbie Marchese of Fort Smith, Diane Young of Van Buren, Cindy Denney and husband Bruce of Fort Smith and Jeannie Crawley of Barling; four siblings, Mary Walbe, Gertie Huck, JoAnn Lehnen, Charles Kleck and wife Irene; sister in law, Mag Kleck; seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 PM, Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel with burial to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Viewing will be 8 AM till 5 PM Monday, February 22 at Edwards Funeral Home. The family will be present from 2 PM till 4 PM on Monday at the Funeral Home. Services are entrusted to Edwards Funeral Home. To place online condolences, visit www.edwardsfuneralhome.com.