Edna Lou Crawford

Edna Lou Crawford, 89, of Amarillo, TX died Thursday, February 20, 2025.

Memorial services will be at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, April 5, 2025, at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount Blvd. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd., Amarillo, Texas.

Edna was born to Clyde Roper and Annie Lucille Waldrop Roper in Ballinger Texas, the oldest daughter in a family of five children, including Curtis Everett Roper, Wanda Faye Roper Barnes, Charles Roper, and Dayton L. Hancock. Edna attended Amarillo High School until she married Leland Royse McMinn, a servicemember in the U.S. Navy. Edna and Royse were blessed with three beautiful daughters: Laurie Ellen, Dianne Lynette and Janet Lee McMinn.

Edna lived most of her life in Amarillo, Texas. At the age of twelve, she began working as a dishwasher at the same restaurant where her mother worked as a waitress. Later, she would follow in her mother’s footsteps to become a waitress and ultimately as the restaurant manager of The Grill at the Grand Bowl. It was there she met Addison “Add” Alexander Nalley, Jr., and the two were married soon after. Edna and Add were known to make the very best enchiladas in all of Amarillo.

Edna was a trailblazer! She attended business classes at Amarillo Junior College and as a result, was hired by the U.S. Postal Service and became the first woman Dock Postal Supervisor in Amarillo. Later, she would drive as a rural route mail carrier and was the first paid driver for Meals on Wheels delivery. Following her retirement from the postal service, Edna became the office manager for Panhandle Presort Mail Service and after worked for many years in the insurance office with her daughter, Dianne.

As a mom, Edna attended church youth outings and school choir trips for her daughters as a sponsor, in addition to serving as homeroom mother and PTA President. She was a square dancer and a member of Parents Without Partners, where she ultimately met and married Cecil Ray Crawford.

When grandchildren and great-grandchildren began to arrive, Edna was gifted with many new names. She joyously answered them all, including Grandmother, G, G-Love, Gabby, Gabs and GroverMoner, to name just a few. She LOVED those endearing names, and even more so because they were given to her by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Music was always such an important part of Edna’s life. In her early years, she would play records with the windows open for fresh air while she ironed clothes and sang with the radio. In fact, she often sang solos in church and joined the sopranos in the choir. She was known to sing everywhere – at home, on car trips and at family reunions. Edna always supported her daughters in their musical endeavors, including piano, flute, and clarinet lessons.

Edna was the baker of cakes, the sewer of Easter, bridesmaids, and prom dresses, Barbie wardrobes, twirling costumes, baby quilts, and other crafty projects. In fact, when in high school, she drew upscale women’s fashion clothes because a pencil and paper set her creative mind in motion. She loved to play board games with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and she loved to play games on her computer while listening to music. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School and was known as one of the best cooks around. Her menu typically included fresh vegetables from her beautiful backyard garden. Edna always gave of herself and was a proud participant of LIFE.

Edna lived a very long and full life. Her memory served her well until the last several years of her life, but she could still tell you stories of growing up in Amarillo, including details about her very first car and friends from school. Anyone who had the privilege to be around her for anytime at all would most certainly hear her announce, “I AM almost 90 years old you know.” She said it with such zest, you knew she was very proud of that fact.

Edna is survived by her brother Dayton Hancock and wife Jeanne, daughters Laurie Belcher and husband John, Dianne Wall and husband Mark Perez, and Janet Evans. She is also survived by eight grandchildren: Chris Carathers and wife Kristen, Doni Carder, Abby Black and husband Jeff, Jeremy Carathers and wife Vonda, Charles Carathers and wife Mary, Danielle Waldrop and husband Collin, Anne Evans, David Hickmott and wife Liz, as well as sixteen great-grandchildren: Emerie, Hudson, Weston, Brenlee, Bennett, Beckham, Bella, Thomas, Henry, Katherine, Hoyt, Nia, Rhett, Lydia Pearl, Parker, and Cecily, as well as numerous nieces, nephews cousins and countless friends.

What an amazing woman! Edna leaves an incredible legacy and will be remembered so well by all who were blessed with her presence.