Laura Elizabeth Crowley Brinker's Obituary
Laura Elizabeth Crowley Brinker
Graveside services for Laura Elizabeth Crowley Brinker will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 17, 2014, at Memory Park with the Reverend Virginia Wall officiating. Burial will follow under the direction of Rader Funeral Home of Longview. She went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, January 14, 2014.
Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Thursday, at the funeral home.
Beth was born February 4, 1920 in Fort Worth, “God’s Country” to H.A. and Mattie Crowley. In her early years, Beth worked for Delta Airlines in Fort Worth. She shared many memorable experiences of the war years and the notable people who passed through that terminal, especially the many young men in the armed forces. She met and fell in love with one of those soldiers, F.E. “Doc” Brinker. Together with Doc, they purchased the Tom’s Peanut Distributorship in Longview in 1946, and owned that until their retirement. When they relocated to Longview, she joined Wesley Methodist Church. She loved her church, her Sunshine Sunday School Class, and her many dear friends in the church.
She and Doc loved to travel and shared many memorable trips with friends and family. As she often commented, she had never been on a bad trip.
In addition to being a loving and generous mother and grandmother, Beth enjoyed water aerobics, sewing, cooking and gardening. The Town and Country Garden Club was one of her favorite activities, as well as Longview Women’s Forum.
Beth wore many nicknames through her blessed life – Betsy, Muz Brenda, Liz, Laura Beth, and around her Buckner home, Ms. Hollywood. But her most cherished name was Pop’s Mommie to her grandchildren.
Beth was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her beloved aunt and uncle, Irma and Earl Jones, her brother, H. A. Crowley, Jr. and her sister, Waunita Clark.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Bill Harper of Hideaway; her son and daughter-in-law, Don and Brickey Brinker of Red Oak; her brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Barbara Crowley of Lake Fork; grandchildren, Chris and Jennifer Harper of Longview, Casey and Alycia Harper of Dallas, Haley Gousman of Dallas; great grandchildren, Colby Harper, Hannah Harper, Kylee Gousman, Lanie Harper and Madison Harper.
Much appreciation goes to the staff of Buckner Westminster Holly House for the loving care they provided to Beth these last 6 years.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Methodist Children’s home, 1111 Herring Ave., Waco, TX 76708 or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105
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