MARY JULE ROSS CROUSE

From the Fort Smith Times Record - Monday, December 19, 2005 1:39 PM CST

Mary Jule Ross Crouse, 73, of Springfield, Ill., formerly of Auburn, Ill., and Fort Smith died at her home on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005. She was born June 17, 1932, in Fort Smith to Ann Martin and Rutherford Jack Ross. She graduated from Fort Smith High School in 1950 and attended Centenary Junior College in New Jersey, the University of Texas, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi, and the University of Kansas. She married Kenneth Curtis Crouse Jr. in 1954 and lived in North Tarrytown and Armonk, N.Y., until her divorce in 1971.

She was a member and past secretary and treasurer of Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Association and received The Order of the Golden Arrow in 2001. She was a member of the Junior League of Fort Smith, a volunteer and member of the board of directors of the Arkansas Valley Habitat for Humanity, received the Governor’s Volunteer Excellence Award in 2000 and was a volunteer with Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect in Fort Smith. She loved all animals, especially her dogs and cats, books, music, art, crafts, swimming and travel.

She was employed by Walter Karl Inc. in Armonk, N.Y., and in Fort Smith by World Wide Travel, Peoples Federal Savings & Loan, Craftech and as an interior designer at Sherwin Williams and Beverly Enterprises. She was employed as a house mother by the Phi Kappa Pi fraternity at the University of Kansas. She served as director of the Crisis Center for Battered Women in Fort Smith until her retirement.

Her baptism, confirmation and marriage were all celebrated in St. John’s Episcopal Church in Fort Smith. She was on St. John’s altar guild, a lay reader and lay Eucharistic minister, a member of the organizational steering committee, drove the Sam Van, and served sandwiches through the sack lunch program.

A memorial service and interment will be held at St. John’s on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2006, at 10:30 a.m.

Mary Jule Crouse is survived by her daughter, Julie Chatham and husband Gary of Chatham, Ill.; her son, Kenneth Crouse and wife Andy of Stilwell, Kan.; four grandchildren, Sara and Rachel Chatham of Chatham and Jessica and Mason Crouse of Stilwell; a brother, Rutherford Ross and wife Nancy of Fort Smith; three sisters, Sue Cross, Randall Viguet and husband Robert, all of Fort Smith, and Ann Pestel of Bella Vista; and several nieces and nephews.