Marie was born August 3rd, 1951 in Canton, Ohio to Lee and Alfonsia Grant, their first of 7 children. At 18, she married Robert Crawford and together they raised 3 children. After her children reached a certain age, she decided to go back to school to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. Once licensed, she worked for a few different nursing homes, then settled at The Laurels of Massillon while working part-time at Mercy Hospital. Known for her professionalism, knowledge, and empathic bedside manner, Marie was highly regarded among her co-workers and patients.

After a sudden medical diagnosis, she went into early retirement where she renewed her passion for art. After attempting several aspects of artistic endeavors, she settled into a genre she coined “Shade-N-Black,” an artistic expression that harkens back to the days of black mannequins in department stores, giving the fashion a different aesthetic. It was through her art that she found renewed purpose and after perfecting her craft, opened up an Etsy Shop to share her vision with the world. She did not allow her diagnosis to hold her down or stop her from living life to its fullest.

It was in post retirement that she was able to experience many firsts and many traditions she established with her family. Her favorite was going to Put-In-Bay for her birthday, a tradition she maintained until she was no longer able to make the journey. She also experienced Disney World with her children and grandchildren, a memory she holds dear. The holidays were incomplete without her traditional calendar distribution, pepperoni bread, and special gift bags she spent the year crafting. She was grateful to pass the tradition of making the pepperoni bread on to her grandchildren, who helped keep the tradition alive these last few years. She showed resilience, strength, and determination to the very end.

Marie Crawford is preceded in death by her parents, Lee and Alfonsia Grant, brothers Lee Grant Jr. and Willie Grant, and sisters Ella Grant and Rosie Grant.

Marie is survived by her husband, Robert Crawford, her children Randall (Trinese) Crawford, Shannon (Shelly) Crawford, and Karen (Timothy) Mitchell, brothers Sylvester “Sly” (Jim Hahn) Grant and Edward Grant, her grandchildren, Mary (Steve) Williamson, Briauna Marie (Bobby) Wyman, Tayevon Crawford, Raysan Crawford, Trayejon Crawford, Shawn Crawford, Shae Crawford, Timothy Mitchell Jr., and David Mitchell, special friend Vernelda Brown, as well as a host of great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, family, and friends.

The family would like to thank all who showed love and support at this time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to the American Heart Association.