Shirley Ann Crawford

Shirley Ann (Pelland) Crawford, 80, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Sunday, May 4, 2025 at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Ks.

Shirley was born June 15, 1944 in Concordia, Kansas. She was the daughter of Milford F. and Mildred H. (Mosher) Pelland. Growing up she lived in Concordia, St. John and at the age of 9 moved to Russell where she attended schools.

Shirley was united in marriage to Lee A. Crawford on December 22, 1961 in Russell. This union was blessed with three children; Ron, Lisa and Tina. Lee worked in the oil fields and they moved around living in Ellinwood, Hays, Holyrood, Walker, Plainville, Midland, Texas, Elk City, Oklahoma and then back to a farm north of Bunker Hill.

Shirley was a devoted wife and homemaker for her children and grandchildren. She was a member of the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary in Holyrood. She loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, working in her garden and with her flowers, cooking for family and friends and making blankets for her grandkids. She was proud of the fact that she bought each grandkid’s first fishing pole.

Shirley’s surviving family include her husband of 63 years, Lee of Russell, Kansas; daughters, Lisa Sowell (Sid) of Dripping Streams, Texas and Tina Lewis of Russell, Kansas; son, Ron Crawford (Tonya) of Russell, Kansas; brother, Jack Pelland (Patti) of Topeka, Kansas; sisters, Kathy Bray (George) of Russell, Kansas and Debra Wehling (Ron) of Russell, Kansas; seven grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents.

Celebration of Shirley’s Life will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell. Burial will follow at the St. Ann’s Catholic Cemetery in Walker, Kansas. The family will be present to greet friends from 10:00 AM to service, Wednesday at the mortuary. Condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who are in charge of these arrangements.