Evelyn Frances "Frannie" Melrose Crawford

Evelyn Frances "Frannie" Melrose Crawford, 86, of Millcreek Township, passed away Tuesday morning, February 5, 2008, after a short illness surrounded by her loving family at Elmwood Presbyterian Lodge. A resident of Erie most of her life, she was born in Benton, New York on August 31, 1921 a daughter of the late George and Mary Wortman Melrose and was raised in St. Joseph's Orphanage until the age of 18.

She was a graduate of Strong Vincent High School and was employed as a tape winder at General Electric for 40 years before retiring in 1986. She was a member of the General Electric Quarter Century Club.

She was a most wonderful, loving mother and grandmother and a very generous and giving person. Her children and grandchildren were the joy of her life. She enjoyed politics, gardening, shopping, traveling, and spending time with her family and was proud of her Cherokee Indian heritage. Evelyn was very fortunate to have known and been friends with many famous celebrities. She spent time with Clark Gable, Kay Williams, Ann B. Davis, Jerry Vale and even dated Les Brown, the famous bandleader.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, George Melrose. She leaves to cherish her memory three daughters, Carol Brown and her husband Joseph of Erie, Pat Mello and her husband Donald of Largo, FL, and Lorraine Randolph and her husband Richard of Erie; eight grandchildren, Kevin Brown and his wife Jill, Craig Brown, Coleen Rupp and her husband Steve, Debbie Pilewski and her husband Patrick, Donald Mello Jr. and Jo Bault, Roberta Randolph and her fiancee T. J. Wellington, James Randolph and his wife Jenn, and Christopher Shilling and his wife Jenna; 12 great grandchildren also survive.

Friends may call at the Russell C. Schmidt & Son Funeral Home Inc. 5000 Wattsburg Road (corner of East Gore Rd and Pine Ave) on Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. and are invited to services there on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. officiated by Rev. David McIlvried. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family. Memorials may be made to the John Kanzius Cancer Research Fund c/o Erie Community Foundation 127 West 6th Street, Erie, Pa. 16501.

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