Carol Norine (Mayhew) Crawford, 74, passed away after a brief illness on February 18, 2022 at Good Samaritan Hospice, Cabot, PA. She was born July 4, 1947 in Butler, the daughter of L. Damon Mayhew and Myrtle “Bunny” (McCoy) Mayhew of Slippery Rock.
Carol graduated from Slippery Rock Area High School, Class of 1965. Following graduation she worked as a lab technician at Butler Hospital, Greenville Hospital and then Moonlight Mushrooms in Worthington. Later, she worked as a nurse’s assistant for Dr. Dubiel in Slippery Rock, then Dr. Edward Smith and Dr. Menzies in Grove City. At the age of 42, Carol pursued her love for teaching and enrolled at Slippery Rock University. As part of her studies there, Carol toured Ireland in 1992; studying folk literature and storytelling. She also traveled to Mexico for a portion of her student teaching. She graduated in 1995, earning a degree in Early Childhood & Elementary Education. She taught second grade at the North Main Street Christian School for 2 years. In 1998, she became the head teacher at the Butler YWCA preschool. In addition, she began teaching English and Writing courses at Butler Community College. Carol was also a dynamic professional storyteller for children and adult audiences.
On Dec. 22, 1972, she married her sweetheart and soul mate, David R. Crawford and they purchased a farmstead on Muddy Creek Drive, Butler. They celebrated 49 years of marriage last December. Carol was a faithful Christian who lived a life of service to Jesus through her many talents of singing, playing the piano, cooking, gardening, painting, storytelling and working with children. Carol attended the North Main Street Church of God and the Whitehall Church Camp for most of her life; serving in numerous capacities, including the choir, Bible School, Missionary work, and coordinator of the church kitchen for several years. Carol also attended North Hills Church of God, New Heights Church of God, Wexford and Christ Outreach Church, Butler.
Carol’s life was drastically changed when she suffered a stroke in August of 2002, leaving her right side permanently paralyzed. She worked hard to regain her speech and taught herself to write left-handed. She was unable to return to teaching but worked with a group of adults with intellectual disabilities in a weekly Chapter Book Club. She read and discussed novels with them at Panera’s Bread. Carol maintained a positive outlook and loving spirit through 20 years of severe limitations; thanks to her faith in God and the loving care of her husband. She spent much of her day praying for others.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her stepmother, Ruby Creekmore Mayhew and her brother-in-law Charles “Chuck” Yetter. Surviving in addition to her husband, David R. Crawford, are her daughters, Kelly Norine (Mayhew) McCloskey and her husband Gregg of Millvale, Molly Lynn Barnhart and her husband, Brian of New Brighton; son, Damon Edward Crawford of Butler; a grandson, Gregory Trent McCloskey and his partner Jennifer Rowland, of Austin, Texas; her sisters, Linda Yetter and her husband Joe de la Guardia of Cummings, Georgia; Doris Stupka and her husband, Jack of Mercer; her brother, William “Bill” Mayhew and his wife, Wanda of Renfrew; sister-in-law, Connie Myers of Spotsylvania, VA ; brother-in-law, Jack Crawford, of Middleburg, FL; many nieces and nephews.
A service of remembrance and celebration of Carol’s life will be held at North Main Street Church of God on March 19, 2022, at 4 p.m. Arrangements through SPENCER D. GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, 140 NEW CASTLE RD. BUTLER, PA 1600, WWW.SPENCERDGEIBEL.COM.
Those who wish to remember Carol in a special way may make gifts in her memory to the Nora Crocker- J. Calvin McCoy Scholarship fund at SRHS Alumni Association, P.O. Box 674, Slippery Rock, PA 16057 or Good Samaritan Hospice care at Concordia Lutheran Ministries 134 Marwood Rd. Cabot, PA 16023, https://secure.qgiv.