Bernice Marie Crews

Bernice Marie Crews was born on February 19, 1929 to Otto “Jack” and Ruth Finn at the Kitzmiller Ranch north ofWray, Colorado. She passed away February 7, 2013 at the age of 83 at Perkins Pavilion Good Samaritan Society of Hastings, in Hastings , Nebraska.

She was the seventh of eight children born to Jack and Ruth. Bernice was always proud of the fact that she had been a part of the glory days of the Kitzmiller Ranch, which her father Jack had helped operate for Doc Kitzmiller.

Bernice lived through the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, and waited at home while our men were overseas fighting WWII. For grade school she went to Hilltop, a one room school southeast of the Kitzmiller Ranch. Bernice graduated from Wray High School in 1947. She lived with other families to be able to go to high school, since a trip to Wray from the Kitzmiller Ranch would take half a day each way in a horse and buggy in those days.

Bernice married Jack Dempsey Crouse in July 1948 and to this union were born Pamela Kay, Cheryl Marie, and Jack Dean. Jack, her husband, died in an accident in 1958. In August 1959 Bernice married William “Bill” John Crews, the father ofMargaret Ann, Marilyn Lee, and Susan Lynn. Bernice accepted Bill’s daughters as her own children from the beginning. Bernice and Bill lived on the State Line Ranch north of Laird with their six children raising cattle until the late 1970′s when they put in 17 circle sprinklers and started raising com. Bill died in 1981.

After Bernice sold the ranch and moved into Wray, she bought the old Lark Bunting boarding house.  It was in complete disrepair at that time. She began renovation doing much of the work herself. She converted it into an elegant Victorian Bed and Breakfast. After two years of hard work, Bernice opened the Lark Bunting Bed and Breakfast in spite of being told that a Bed & Breakfast wouldn’t work in Wray.  She ran a very successful Bed and Breakfast until 2007 when she had to quit for health reasons . The Lark Bunting stands today as a memorial to the strong will of a hard working, insightful woman, who refused to give up when times were hard . Over the years many people enjoyed the hospitality of Bernice at the Lark Bunting Bed and Breakfast or having tea or a meal with her.

Bernice lived in Wray all but a few years of her life. Even though she enjoyed traveling abroad, she thought Wray was the best place and the most beautiful place on the earth. She never regretted being from a small town on the prairie of Eastern Colorado.

Bemice was involved in the Riverside Project, Sorosis, and Sage Hens.  She was a 4-H cooking leader when her children were growing up and was a member of the Wray Methodist Church from childhood. Later in life she went to New Life Fellowship in Eckley.

She is preceded in death by her parents , Jack and Ruth Finn, 4 brothers, Virgil, Orin, Hubert , and John, and 2 sisters, Mary Brown and Virginia Southwell.

Bernice is survived by her sister, June Campbell of Northglenn, Colorado, her six children, Pamela (Larry) Neuschwanger ofWray, Margaret (Bob) Shade ofWray, Cheryl (Bruce) Trautman of Sutton, NE, Jack Crouse of Queen Creek, AZ, Marilyn (Ardel) Harger of Lincoln, NE and Susan (Burt) Porche of Olive Branch, MS, 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews , and friends. She will be missed by all.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at New Life Fellowship in Eckley, Colorado at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Glen Kline officiating. Intennent followed at Grandview Cemetery in Wray, Colorado.  Memorials may be sent to Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado, 455 Shennan St. Suite 500, Denver, CO 80203. Spellman-Schmidt Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.