Ocia Mae Crowe

Ocia Mae Crowe, 92, of Nevada, Mo., passed away March 7, 2014, at the Moore-Few Care Center, in Nevada. She was born March 15, 1921, in Richards, Mo., to Silas (Bud) and Jessie Edna (Lawrence) Austin.

She attended the Durham School and was later united in marriage to Virgil Lee Reed. To their union two children were born. She was then married to Frederick L. Ellis until his death, then Henry Ross Crowe, who also preceded her in death. Ocia's husband, Fred, was a "military man" and together they traveled the world living in several states. When he retired, they purchased a home on North Clay and that was where she developed a talent for gardening. She enjoyed fishing, traveling, collecting dolls, spending time with family and especially her beloved pets.

She also loved to sew, embroidery, and loved making quilts. She was known to be a very fine cook and wonderful all around homemaker. Ocia loved to tease and could light up a room with her smile and great sense of humor. She loved to serve the Lord by her ministry of caring for children in the nursery first at the First Baptist Church then the Pine Street Baptist Church, where she had been a member for more than 40 years. She was also a past member of the Durham Good Neighbors Club until in disbanded.

Ocia's dream was to save every penny to fund the Ocia Crowe bus ministry to "pick up all the little kiddies and old ladies in town so they can go to church too." She saved more than $80,000 toward this goal, however, her health failed and her money went to her nursing home care instead.

Survivors include her sisters, Verna Polk, of Nevada, and Patsy Patrick, of White Water, Colo.; brother, Billy J. Austin and Katy, of Price, Utah; sister --in-law, Barbara Austin, of Tucson, Ariz.; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Ocia was preceded in death by her parents; three husbands; three brothers; one sister; and both of her children, Shirley Mae Reed and Michael Lee Reed.

Funeral services for Ocia Crowe are scheduled for 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 12, at the Ferry Funeral Home, with interment to follow at 11 a.m., at the Fort Scott National Cemetery in Fort Scott, Kan.

Contributions may be made in her name to the Bus Ministry at the Pine Street Baptist Church in care of Ferry Funeral Home.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.