Lelia Donnell Francisco Crabtree

Lelia Donnell Francisco Crabtree, 90, of Eudora died January 20, 2015. She was born February 20, 1924 in Prescott, Arkansas, the daughter of the late Allen Theodore Francisco and James Velma McCain Francisco. She was preceded in death by her husband, Douglas Crabtree, her parents, three sisters, Emma Lee Bufkin, Georgia LeMay and Mary Ethel Gill, her beloved grandmother, Lelia Buchanan McCain "Granny", and many friends (especially, Virginia Yee). Survivors include one daughter, Janet Lee Nelson (Guy) of Eudora, Arkansas and two sons, Douglas Allen "Bo" Crabtree (Chris) of Gallatin, Tennessee and John Tandy Crabtree (Tracy) of Montreal, Missouri; her grandchildren, Bill Nelson (Misty), Lelia Rebecca Nelson, Lisa Shelton (Jeff), Karen Crabtree, Katie Crabtree, Ann Crabtree, Rachel Crabtree and Preston Crabtree; her great-grandchildren, Tristan and Kinley Shelton and Bryson Crabtree. She was "Lelia" to her sisters, "Mamaw" to us, "Aunt Lil" to many and "Miss Lil" to all of Eudora. Lil moved to Eudora after graduating high school to live with her sister while awaiting an opportunity to start nurse's training. She never made it to nursing school, but she ministered to countless people she encountered through the famous "Lil's Shop" that she operated for 49 years on Main Street in Eudora. She welcomed all into her store, and many received her love from the stools perched around her counters. She took food and consolation to the sick and visited the lonely. She checked on people in the hospital and rarely went anywhere empty handed. A flow of people who entered her front door and a few who regularly used the back door were blessed with her love and acceptance. She cared for each one, individually. She was a friend to each manager of the Dime Store next door and source of information and peppermints to all the UPS guys. She managed the cemetery and birthday calendars for the Twentieth Century Club for many years. She loved her family, her store, Eudora, her Sunday school class at Eudora Baptist Church, her card playing friends, her yard, a good joke, and finding just the right greeting card to send to someone. She loved to "go." Even when Alzheimer's disease was stealing her abilities, she remained social and pleasant in personality. We, her children, were blessed to have her. She loved us. We love her. Visitation will be held at Griffin-Culpepper Funeral Service in Eudora, Ark. from 5 p.m-7 p.m. on Friday, January 23, 2015. Funeral services will be held at Eudora Baptist Church with Rev. Jimmy Wallace officiating on Saturday, January 24 at 11 a.m. Burial will be at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Eudora. The family expresses their thanks to the caregivers at Lake Village Assisted Living Center, Lake Village Rehabilitation and Care Center and Hospice personnel. Memorials may be made to Mt. Carmel Cemetery Fund, c/o Darlene Calloway, 1163 N. Mabry Street, Eudora, Ark. 71640/. Arrangements made by Griffin-Culpepper Funeral Service of Eudora, Ark. Online guest book may be signed at www.griffinculpepper.com.