Mary Roberta Peebles Crawford passed away Wednesday, February 6, 2013 at the Whitman Hospital in Colfax. She was 68. Funeral Services will be Friday, February 22nd, at 10:00 AM at the Colfax United Methodist Church. Pastor Bob Ingalls will officiate. Burial will follow at the Colfax Cemetery. Viewing will be Wednesday and Thursday, February 20 & 21 at Bruning Funeral Home. Mary was born March 18, 1944 at the Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane and lived in Rosalia for six months, then in and around Oakesdale for five and a half years before settling in Colfax. She attended Colfax schools and graduated in 1962. Mary was a member of the Methodist Church and was active in the International Order of Rainbow for Girls which included holding the post of Mother Adviser and Grand Orator for the State of Washington. Mary was also the recipient of the Grand Cross of Colors. After graduating high school she spent a brief period of time at Kinman Business College. She then worked at the Whitman County Title Company for five years before moving on to become Chief Deputy Assessor in the Whitman County Assessor's Office. She was married to Keith "Frog" Crawford in 1967 and daughter Traci Crawford was born in 1968 with daughter Tana Crawford following in 1972. Mary and Keith were married for 34 years. After holding the Chief Deputy Assessor post for 11 years, in November of 1979 Mary was appointed Whitman County Treasurer becoming the youngest person to ever hold the position in Whitman County. She ran for re-election four times and was unopposed three of the four times. Mary also served a one year term as the President of the Washington Association of County Treasurers during her 20 ½ year tenure as Whitman County Treasurer. She actively followed her daughters in their sporting careers in the Colfax school system as well as in college. Mary retired in 2000 and became an avid follower of the Duke Blue Devil and the Gonzaga Bulldog men's basketball teams. She felt very grateful to have had the opportunity to serve the citizens of Whitman County, a county her family helped pioneer. She was preceded in death by her mother Marjorie Baker Peebles, father Thomas Joseph Peebles, daughter Trudi Lynn Crawford and her beloved miniature schnauzer Anna. In addition to her 2 daughters; she is survived by a brother Tim Peebles of Coeur d'Alene, ID., an aunt, Kay Krom of Pullman, WA as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. The family suggests memorial gifts be made to the Whitman Hospital Foundation or the Colfax High School Foundation. On-line guest book is at www.bruningfuneralhome.com
Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax is caring for the family.