M. Inez Crump

M. Inez Crump was born at home on October 14,1926. Her parents were Sumner S Pierce, and Charlotte Florence Pierce. Charlotte's maiden surname was Cornell. Inez arrived to a house already filled with siblings. She had 5 older brothers and 4 older sisters. Her father was charmed by his youngest daughter, and nicknamed her, "his Pearl." Their home was on a dairy farm in upstate New York. Located between the towns of Canton and Potsdam.

All of the siblings worked the farm. Inez reported she had to churn the butter and keep the cows off the road. She attended a one room schoolhouse until she went to high school in Canton. After graduating high school she went to business school. With her newly acquired office skills she came to work in the War Department in Washington DC, to help the war effort in World War 2. She told us she was almost fired the first day for wearing pants to work. It was a different time.

When the war was over she went back home and before long caught the eye of a handsome young soldier back from the war and attending Clarkson University on the GI Bill. His name was Arnold Crump from Buck's Bridge, NY.  Before long there was love, marriage, and babies. Their children, in order of arrival, were Connie Marie, Linda Inez, Wayne Arnold, Rita Ann, and Gordon Earle. She was a homemaker as was usual in those days. She handled the family with love, tolerance, and humor.

When the children were mostly grown, she went to work at the Montgomery County Board of Elections. Then she retired, and  traveled the country with Arnold, pulling a trailer and then upgrading to an RV. They loved trailer camping. They loved to dance. They did square dancing, round dancing, and ballroom dancing. When they took to the dance floor at weddings, people would clear the floor to watch, they were so graceful and elegant.  They loved having grandchildren. They had 13 of them. They practiced the time-tested methods of spoiling them rotten, so they would know they were loved.

When Arnold had a downturn in his health she became his caretaker. She was a wonderful example to everyone of how to be there for loved ones. When he passed she carried on, knowing she would see him again on the other side.

She filled her remaining years Snowbirding in the Winter to her home in North Fort Myers’s. She loved to read. She attended the Red Hat Ladies Club, and welcomed visiting family members. Along the way she gathered 16 Great Grandchildren, and welcomed them into the fold. She was 94 when she was found to have Cancer. She bravely chose to forgo any surgery or chemo, and decided to live the best she could with her remaining time. She set a goal to make it to her birthday in October, and to turn 95. She made it. She then hosted a big birthday celebration at a winery. An appropriate setting, since she loved wine. Especially wine with cheese and crackers.

Soon the Cancer took it's due. She was cared for by her children and was able to die at home. She passed on November 22, 2021. All of her children were in attendance at the end. Now that her journey is over we are quite certain that she has reunited with her husband Arnold, and are dancing among the clouds.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Church of the Atonement, 10613 Georgia Ave Silver Spring, MD 20902; or to Montgomery Hospice.