Mary Elizabeth (Mary Beth) Crawford, age 67 of Laramie, Wyoming, passed away March 31, 2023, at her home.
Mary Beth was born October 23, 1955, in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania to Malcolm and Patricia Crawford. As a young child, she moved with her family to Saudi Arabia where they lived for four years, then lived for a year in Ellisville, Missouri. She spent the rest of her childhood in Gillette, Wyoming with her father, stepmother and siblings. She graduated from Campbell County High School in 1973.
For nearly twenty years, Mary Beth worked in the hospitality industry in various capacities including waitressing and hotel night auditor. She also worked for OfficeMax. When the store closed permanently, she embraced the opportunity to return to college and pursue a direction she was passionate about.
Mary Beth returned to Casper College to major in Addictionology and Education. Through one of her addictionology courses, Mary Beth had the opportunity to visit the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and got to know the Lakota People and learn about their lives and substance use impacting the native population. She was truly dedicated to working with individuals struggling with addiction.
Also, during her time in Casper, Mary Beth worked with incarcerated juveniles and discovered a passion for working with “at-risk” students. She worked at the Casper Juvenile Detention Center (JDC) and Youth Crisis Center, as well as mentoring children through the Department of Family Services. For five years she worked for a suicide crisis hotline as a phone volunteer, then director and later served as a member of the Board of Directors. Additionally, she was a certified hospice volunteer for two years.
Eventually, she transferred to the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming and continued taking classes to work towards her degree. Her goal was to obtain a degree in addiction counseling.
Mary Beth was described as being Interesting, compassionate, intuitive and inclusive. She was all of those things and much more. She loved going to lunch with friends or family, visiting and sharing stories. She enjoyed photography, jewelry-making, writing and being in nature. She enjoyed exploring nature with her camera and found peace among the animals and beauty in the wildflowers. She would often go up to Casper Mountain and take pictures of all her favorite things and create beautiful calendars that she gifted to her family and friends. She loved every living creature (especially her cat Chloe) and had a gift when it came to animals and children, they were drawn to her. She enjoyed being outside and feeding the birds. The ravens near her home befriended her and soon began to recognize her and her car and would watch and wait in excitement for her to feed them.
Mary Beth was someone you could talk to about anything and if you ever needed help, she was the first to offer a helping hand, words of advice or encouragement. She had an uncanny ability to know when she was needed, and she would call at just the right time with words of wisdom, comfort and support. She never judged. She accepted everyone exactly as they were and only saw their heart. She saw potential in everyone and knew their gifts, often better than they knew them themselves. She was truly one of a kind.
She is survived by her stepfather John Cavanaugh of Wethersfield, Connecticut, brothers Jim (Michelle) Crawford of Bonham, Texas, Bill Shane of Gillette, Wyoming, Jerry (Sharon) Shane of Buffalo, Wyoming, sisters Loretta Hardy of Gillette, Wyoming and Vickie Ferderer of Sundance, Wyoming and several nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father Malcolm Crawford and stepmother Evelyn Crawford, mother Patricia Cavanaugh and nephew Shane Crawford.
Services will be scheduled at a later date in Casper, Wyoming. In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to make a donation in her memory to the Ogalala Pet Project: https://oglalapetproject.org/about-oppprograms.
I met Mary Beth through a mutual friend. We had interests in addictionily, esoteric philosophy and religion. Our beliefs were much the same and we even managed to meet up for lunch a time or two where I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know her better. I sure appreciate the little time we spent on this earthly plane and anticipate many more good times to come as we reunite with our sister souls in the great beyond. Fly high Mary Beth though it is sad to have you leave us so soon.
MB and I knew each other for over 40 years. She was one of my best friends. I will miss her dearly. Now she flies on eagles wings far above this earthly world. Much love always my dear friend 💙💙💙
Mary Beth and I worked together at Boise/ OfficeMax years ago. She was a wonderful, fun person who was easy to love and cared for people in a deep and unselfish way. God bless her and her family. The world is a little lonelier without her presence. Christina Pelton
I went to school with Mary Beth in Gillette. Back when they seated the students by their last name. You know…Mary Beth Crawford—Jim Donald. This gave us the opportunity to talk a lot before class. She never said anything bad about anyone else, she never complained, she was always concerned about others and asked if there was something she could do. Rest easy Mary Beth. Until the final roll is called and we can all answer. I am here.
MaryBeth I Miss You SO much, I thought we were gonna do this together?? I know you just had to go first!! I will be there shortly ok?? We meet in the office of CCHS my Freshman year, started talking there and never did stop!!!!!! She is gonna be missed by so many friends!!!!! Girl, miss you all ready, Love Ya Always!!!!
I m so sorry for your loss. She was triply a special soul. She will be missed.
Mary Beth never met a stranger. My parents thought the world of her, and I did too. She will be missed.
I am so sorry about Mary Beth’s passing. She was a sweet soul, always smiling. She will be missed.
One thing about Mary Beth, she loved life and enjoyed all that God provided. She was absolutely intuitive and all that knew her will miss her deeply. Sincere Sympathy extended.
Mary Beth was the the first person I met when my family moved to Gillette, WY in the summer of 1971. We met while swimming that first summer, I was at the pool every waking hour. We shared a love for swimming. Sleep peacefully my friend.
I will miss her, I worked with her at Perkins in Laramie, Wyoming