Darlene Crim

QUINCY – Dorothy Darlene Crim, 89, of Quincy, peacefully went to her heavenly home at 5:40 p.m. Wednesday (Nov. 29, 2023) at the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy.

She was born Jan. 19, 1934, in Excello, Mo., a daughter of William Samuel and Dorothy Helen (Lawrence) Sneed. She was united in marriage to Charles Wade Crim on Nov. 14, 1954, at First Baptist Church in Macon, Mo. The couple recently celebrated their 69^th wedding anniversary.

Darlene was a 1952 graduate of Macon High School and worked as an operator with the Missouri Telephone Company in Macon before starting a family. She was a stay-at-home mom until her children reached school age, when she became a teacher’s aide with the Macon County R-1 School District.

She was happy to be the central figure in the lives of her children, always offering support and encouragement, and was quick to tell anyone how proud she was of their accomplishments. She passed along her love of reading and music. Darlene and Charles worked hard to ensure their children could pursue whatever educational opportunities they chose.

An accomplished pianist who served Ardmore Baptist Church for many years, she also gave piano lessons to students in Macon.

Darlene and Charles moved to Sedalia, Mo., in 1976, and then to Hurst, Texas, in 1978. While in Texas, she was a learning resource assistant in the library of the Northeast campus of Tarrant County College until her retirement in 1997.

Darlene and Charles moved to Quincy in 2009 to be close to their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They enjoyed hosting great-grandchildren for sleepovers, ferrying them to and from school, and attending their sporting events, dance recitals and school functions. Darlene always had treats, crafts and hugs readily available.

They were members of First Southern Baptist Church in Quincy.

Darlene was the family’s official historian, compiling written and photographic histories of both her and Charles’ families. She also loved antiques, scrapbooking and creating extensive photo albums for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by two children, Donald (Peggy) Crim of Quincy and Debora (John) Kowalak of Weatherford, Texas; three grandchildren, Jessica (Chris) Dedert, Nathan (Lacey) Crim and Jackie Long, all of Quincy; eight great-grandchildren, Kyndall and Samuel Crim, Olivia and Alexander Dedert, Isabella, Christina and Ava Long, and Brandon Jackson, all of Quincy; a sister, Linda Christmas of Eufaula, Ala; two sisters-in-law, Bonny Boedeker of Ellisville, Mo., and Barbara Jones of Columbia, Mo.; a brother-in-law, Spencer Jones of Columbia; two cousins, Tom (Charlene) Sneed of Madison, Mo., and Mary (Gary) Lawton of Macon; and several nieces and nephews and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Clyde and Esther Blunt of Columbia; an infant daughter, Dana Sue Crim; three brothers-in-law, Bob Crim, Eugene Boedeker and Jerry Spears; two sisters-in-law, Betty Crim and Cleo Crim; and a niece, Lori Boedeker Jolly.

There will be no visitation. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6, at the Hansen-Spear Funeral Home, with the Rev. Tom Rains presiding. Burial and graveside services will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Macon.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home, 11300 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, MO 63044.

The Hansen-Spear Funeral Home in Quincy is in charge of arrangements.