Marilyn Cranford

May, 25, 1922 – March 19, 2019

Marilyn Cranford passed away on the evening of March 19, 2019, at Angelina House Assisted Living in Jacksonville, Texas at the age of 96.

Marilyn was born on May 25, 1922 to Arkan Erett and Bonnie Gregory Cranford. She spent a very happy childhood in Sacul, Texas. She went to Sacul schools and completed her high school education at the Finishing School of Stephen F. Austin State College.

Most of Marilyn’s adult life was spent in Dallas, Texas where she was employed as an x-ray technician. She never married, and lived with her sister Melba until Melba’s passing of cancer in 1978. The following year, Marilyn moved home to Sacul to be with her mother. She loved working in the yard, tending to her beautiful flower beds, enjoying her beloved pets (most notably Oscar) and quilting with her friends at the Community Center. She lived at the family home until November of 2008, at which time she moved into the Angelina House Assisted Living where she resided until her death.

Marilyn was a well respected member of the community, and she lived her life with integrity. She was a member of several boards in her lifetime, and there are scholarships set up in her name at SFA.

Marilyn is preceded in death by her parents, Bonnie and Arkan Cranford, and by her sister Melba. She is survived by James and Vicki Houser, close friends who became family, special friends Wayne and Linda Williamson, and sweet friends at Sacul, Jacksonville and Rusk.

A special thank you to the staff of Angelina House Assisted Living, the caregivers who were so good to her, and to Heart to Heart Hospice.

There will be a simple graveside service at Sacul Cemetery on Friday, March 22, 2019, at 11 a.m., which will be officiated by Rev. Tommy Williams and Mr. James Houser, under the direction of Dickie Allen Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to National Center for Pharmaceutical Crops (NCPC), Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture, SFASU, 419 East College St. Box 6109, SFA Station, Nacogdoches, TX 75962-6109.