Melva Jean Crawford, 85, passed away Jan. 29, 2019, at Ellsworth County Medical Center, Ellsworth. She was born June 14, 1933 at Okemah, Okla. to Vernie Marshall Thomas Sr. and Lena Mae (Davenport) Thomas. She married Andrew J. Crawford Sr. July 24, 1947 at Okemah, Okla. He died Sept. 3, 2013.

Coming from Fairfax, Okla. in 1950, Melva was a Great Bend resident. She supported her family through working at Jones Laundry, Fuller Brush, Great Bend Packing and Ell Kan and co-owning Vickers, APCO and the Alcove Supper Club. She loved to play cards and spend time with her family.

Survivors include, four sons, Andrew Crawford Jr. and his wife Diana of Richmond, Va., Steve Crawford and his wife Marcia of Great Bend, David M. Crawford Sr. and his wife Patty of Great Bend, and Kenneth Crawford of Hutchinson; four daughters, Judy L. Vasquez and Betty Adams, both of Great Bend, Brenda Langston and her husband Roger of Holyrood, and Sue Schridde and her husband David of Taneyville, Mo.; 39 grandchildren; 80 great-grandchildren; 13 great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Vernie M. Thomas Jr. of Okemah, Okla.; and two sisters, Wanda Lee Walker and Iva Mae Walker, both of Okemah, Okla. She was preceded in death by her parents, Vernie Thomas Sr. and Lena Thomas; one son-in-law, Joseph Luis Vasquez; two grandsons, Jeremy Adams and Jared Langston; one great-grandson, Matthew Wyatt Beesley; and six brothers and sisters.

Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, Feb. 1, 2019, with family present from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Funeral Service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, at Bryant Funeral Home, with Rev. Dick Ogle presiding. Interment will be in the Great Bend Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Melva Crawford Memorial Fund, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.

Funeral arrangements provided by

Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home

P.O. Box 146

Hoisington, KS 67544

Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Jan. 31, 2019