Barbara Ann (Cunningham) Crawford passed away Jan. 8, 2019, surrounded by family. She was born Aug. 26, 1950, to Robert Bruce Cunningham and Bonnie Jean (Volesky) Cunningham. She grew up on a farm in Kansas with her two brothers, and her family later moved to Missouri, where she attended and graduated from Clinton High School in 1968. She married Newton Ulysses Crawford Jr. on Aug. 5, 1972, and they eventually moved to the Crawford family farm in Texas County, Mo., where they raised their 10 children.
Barbara was known by all for her hospitality, her faith and her devotion to her large family and her close circle of friends. The most precious thing to her was time spent with family and friends. She loved watching her children and grandchildren in their various sports or extracurricular activities and never missed a game or concert. At one point a few years ago, she had a grandchild in almost every grade in the Houston School District.
She also loved exploring nature, swimming and walking the river with her kids and grandkids. Throughout her life, she planted a flower garden and a vegetable garden every spring, and she enjoyed working in the garden and eating the fresh produce, especially her asparagus. Barbara attended Bado Church and loved taking her children and then grandchildren with her. She also served at Bado Church as needed on Sundays, in the summers for VBS and as part of the women’s prayer group. Her devotion to God and vast knowledge of scripture touched everyone she knew. Barbara’s legacy branches farther than “mom/granny” and “sister/aunt” –– her legacy extends from family and into a community that knows her for her strong faith, delicious home cooked food, beautiful smile and adventurous, daredevil spirit.
She was preceded in death by both her parents; her husband, Newton; and her brother, David Cunningham.
She is survived by her brother, Robert “Bob” Cunningham; her 10 kids (Rachel Rinehart Johnson, Brittany Gaines, Sonny Crawford, Amanda Meyer, Sarah Crawford, Sam Crawford, Ben Crawford, Jillian Adams, Daniel Crawford, and Martin Crawford); 26 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and various nieces, nephews, great-nieces and -nephews.
Services are 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 14, 2019, at Wellspring Church with Pastor Bob Cunningham and Randle Scheets officiating. Burial will be in Union Cemetery under the direction of Evans Funeral Home. Pallbearers are Sonny Crawford, Sam Crawford, Ben Crawford, Danny Crawford, Martin Crawford and Malachi Sawyer. Honorary pallbearers are Tom Meyer, Mark Gaines and Adam Adams.
In lieu of flowers, family suggests donations be made to the Bado Church building fund in her memory.
PAID
