Frances Crider

Frances McKennon Crider, age 96 of Ross, passed away early Friday morning, May 25, 2007 at West Rest Haven in West. Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at Aderhold Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Allan Lane officiating. Burial will follow at White Rock Cemetery near Ross. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Mrs. Crider was born July 19, 1910 in rural northwestern Tennessee near Paris to Joseph Gideon and Anna Love (Holcomb) McKennon. She was their eldest daughter and second of six. During her early school years she found herself a transplanted Texan when the Santa Fe railroad transferred her father to its shops in Cleburne where her education continued. On May 10, 1931 she was united in marriage to Clarence Crider in Dallas; he preceded her in death on January 2, 1974. Through their marriage they lived in a number of settings in Texas before moving to Whitney in 1953. At that time, generation began at the newly completed dam and hydroelectric plant. Except for "A Winter in the Valley" at Falcon Dam in 1954 and 55 they remained in Whitney until their final move to Ross in late 1973. Frances rarely toiled for remuneration outside the home, but was an eager and willing worker in her church, community, and with friends and family. A master tailor, she designed and made Clarence's suits for the majority of their married life. When her daughter could not find a wedding gown to her liking, Frances sketched out a design, created it from old fabric, made adjustments, and created the exact gown her daughter had in mind. Additionally, she designed and made all of the bridesmaids' gowns, the flower girl's frock, all headpieces, and her own attire for that event! Although they had but one child, Mary Jo, Frances loved children and worked with pre-school and early elementary school age groups in her church homes in Dallas, Whitney, and Waco, where she affiliated with her final church family at First Baptist. In her later years she worked in the Sewing Class, a mission program of the church which combined the art of sewing with Bible study and fellowship. Additionally, she worked in the church library, often after a 3+ hour sewing class, mending books so that more children and adults could enjoy them intact. Her Sewing Class and library activities continued through the Spring of 2003. She home schooled their daughter in the first grade, worked the New York Times crossword puzzles in ink, and thoroughly enjoyed Bible study, and reading. Following her move to Ross she embraced rural living and was a member of the Ross Extension Homemakers (an evolution of the Home Demonstration Clubs to which she had belonged in Burnet County in the 1930's). She laughingly said that she was born in the country, but much preferred living there with a car for a quick jaunt into town rather than with the infrequent mule-driven wagon journeys of her early childhood. In 1964 she became a member of the Whitney Chapter No 930, Order of the Eastern Star, served as Worthy Matron in 1970 to 71, held a number of other offices on the local level, and was an endowed member of that chapter at the time of her death. She was a multi-year member of the Advisory Board of Whitney Rainbow Assembly #232; and was honored as a Master of the Grand Cross of Color of the International Order of Rainbow Girls in 1971. The Eastern Star funeral will be presented by Whitney chapter during her funeral services. She is also preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Joseph McKennon and James McKennon; a sister, Ann Huber; adopted brother, Fred Smith; and all of her siblings-in-law. Survivors include a daughter, Mary Jo Jaska and husband Jim of Ross; two sisters, Margaret Hall of Paris, TN and Mary Dennis of Augusta, GA; two grandsons, Jimmy Jaska and his wife Megan of Leroy and Joey Jaska of Ross and his girlfriend Ashley McGilvrey; and a number of nephews and nieces in Florida, California, Texas, Kentucky, Arkansas, and various other points. Pallbearers will be Jimmy Jaska, Joey Jaska, Rick Jaska, Tim Jaska, Raymond Jaska, and Pat Jaska. Memorials may be made to White Rock Cemetery Association, Ross Volunteer Fire Department, or West Volunteer Ambulance Association.