Crotwell, Jimmie Lou (Mrs. Claude)

Funeral services for Mrs. Jimmie Crotwell were January 11, 2008, in the chapel of Kilpatrick’s Funeral Home in Ruston with the Rev. Wayne Evans presiding, with interment at Johnston Chapel UMC, January 12, 2008.

Jimmie Lou Brown was born on January 13, 1929, in Coahoma, Texas. Her mother was Modena Hull and her father was Jim Brown. Her father moved his family to McComb, Mississippi shortly after her birth. She met and married a “country boy,” Claude Crotwell in 1946. He worked on the L&M train line as a telegraph operator. They were married for thirty-three years before the Lord called him into eternal rest.

Jimmie’s calling in life was as “homemaker,” and she pursued that calling with great dedication and love. She made her home a sanctuary for her husband and the six children she produced and reared. Her family was her life. She was a very talented seamstress, and actually made two of her daughters’ wedding dresses. She also enjoyed reading and gardening.

She was married to the late Reverend Claude M. Crotwell, a minister in the United Methodist Church. Their ministry began in Mississippi where he served churches in Bogue Chitto, Laurel, Waynesboro, Pelahatchie and Silver City. In Louisiana, Rev. Crotwell served as pastor to Calhoun, Beulah, Indian Village, Mangham, Columbia-Hebert, Pine Grove-Walker and Bernice United Methodist Churches.

After the death of her husband, Mrs. Crotwell decided to go to Nursing School and earned her Registered Nursing Degree from Louisiana Tech in Ruston. Her family helped her when they could; but she mostly needed our prayers. Since Rev. Crotwell passed away at an early age, there was one child still at home. She did graduate from Nursing School and went on to enjoy nursing for over 20 years. She was Director of Nursing at Alpine Nursing Home. She also worked in Lincoln General Hospital in Ruston in the Intensive Care Unit and she worked as an Emergency Room nurse at Glenwood Hospital in West Monroe, Louisiana.

She has been a member of Grace United Methodist Church of Ruston and the Holly Sunday School Class for 28 years. She was a member of the United Methodist Women and the Women of Grace and the Nettie White Circle.

Mrs. Crotwell moved from Ruston to Allen, Texas to be closer to her daughters in September. She suffered a heart attack in June, but was in otherwise good health. On December 30, 2007, she suffered a fall striking her head on the floor. She was taken to the hospital where she underwent emergency brain surgery. She did not recover from her surgery and passed away on January 8, 2008, surrounded by her family.

Mrs. Crotwell is preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Claude M. Crotwell and son Michael, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Brown of McComb, Mississippi; sister Louise Allen and brother Marcus Brown.

Mrs. Crotwell is survived by her five children and their spouses: James Crotwell and wife Denise, of Union, Mississippi; Ronald Crotwell and wife Gracie of Pelahatchie, Mississippi; daughters Shelia Ross and husband Denny of Allen, Texas; Celeste Crotwell of Marshall, Texas; Bridgette Pullis and husband Robert of Missouri City, Texas. She is also survived by eight grandchildren Tony Crotwell and Claudia Bowman of Pelahatchie, Mississippi; Michael Ross of Yukon, Oklahoma; Mandy Brotherton of West Des Moines, Iowa; Bret Lynn of Longview, Texas; Stephanie Lynn of Hallsville, Texas; Sandy Lynn of Kilgore, Texas; and Beth Crotwell of Flowood, Mississippi. She also has eight great-grandchildren, Jacob and Isaac Ross, Maggie and Caitlin Bowman, Eric Crotwell, Hayden Fredenburg, and Brody Crum. She is also survived by her brother Woodie Brown of Monticello, Mississippi.

She was loved very much by her family and she will be terribly missed.

The Children of Jimmie Crotwell