Louella Rose (Lockwood) Crandall passed away August 18, 2012 from pancreatic cancer. She was born November 23, 1933 in Tacoma, WA to Christian W. and Ruth (Eagan) Lockwood. Early in her youth Lou’s older brother Don left home to fight the war in the Pacific Theater while she took on the responsibilities of helping raise her two younger brothers, Raymond and David, and taking care of Multiple Sclerosis patients living in their home. By her late teens she found herself working in the emergency room and supervising nurses with the hopes of becoming a degreed nurse. This time began forming the foundation that embodied Lou’s philosophy of life – to fill the need and make it happen. She would hold true to this philosophy throughout her life with service to her family, friends and communities.
On January 21, 1952 Lou married her sweetheart, Charles F. “Chuck” Crandall, with whom she would spend the next 53 years. As hotel managers they made multiple moves around the country before settling in Des Moines, WA where they began raising their two sons. Early in the 1960s Chuck’s career with The Boeing Company took the family to Alabama where Lou and Chuck became involved with Vista and the civil rights movement. Teaching sharecropper’s basic hygiene, repairing homes, digging wells, and transporting families for inoculations were part of Lou’s daily life in the South. She was most proud of the actions she and Dee Olson took which forced the Huntsville City Council to recognize the Federal law that provided meals to school children regardless of race. Today, Lou’s name is found on the Wall of Tolerance in the Civil Rights Memorial Center, Montgomery, AL, as her pledge to continue her commitment to work in her daily life for justice, equality and human rights – the ideals for which the civil rights martyrs died.
Upon returning to Des Moines, WA Lou reacquainted herself with the St. Philomena community. Lifelong friends were made during the Crisio movement and Lou encouraged Chuck’s pursuit of spiritual growth with the Deaconate program. Later she would join Chuck with helping others pursue their spiritual growth by teaching RCIA (Right of Christian Initiation of Adults).
Lou spent over 21 years working at Highline Community College. During that time, at the age of 63, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Human Services & Education at Western Washington University which enabled her to become the Nursing Program Coordinator.
After retirement Lou continued service to her community working tirelessly to feed those in need at the Nativity House, distribute layettes for “crack babies”, volunteer at food banks, and numerous other service activities. After Chuck’s death and feeling a void, Lou met a family with two year old twins and newborn triplets who needed her as much she needed them! They would become her “kids” and form an everlasting bond.
A memorial mass will be held on Saturday, September 1, 2012 at 11:00 AM at St. Philomena Catholic Church in Des Moines, WA.
Lou was preceded in death by Chuck and her brothers Don and Raymond. She is survived by her sons Allen (Martha) and Stephen (Rebekah); grandchildren Joshua (Hallie) and JoAnna; great-grandchildren Taylor, Benjamin and Jensen; brother David (Carol); numerous nieces and nephews; and her “kids” Jackson, Xavier, Gillian, Ronan and Isaiah. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Pediatric Interim Care Center (PICC) at 253-852-5253 (e-mail: picc@picc.net; web site: www.picc.net), Angels for Hope (e-mail: cindy@angelsforhope.org; web site: www.angelsforhope.org), or Seattle Children’s Orthopedic Hospital at 800-635-1432 (web site: www.seattlechildrens.org). Please sign the online memorial at www.bonneywatson.com.
