Obituary of Euvalta Mae Crews

Euvalta Mae Crews, 84-year-old former resident of Doniphan, MO, departed this life Saturday, November 20, 2021, in Columbia, SC, where she had lived for the past several years. Euvalta was born August 5, 1937, in Doniphan to the late Allie Adam and Frances Mae (Little) Pierce. She was always affectionately nicknamed “Tooter”. Euvalta was preceded in death by her parents and her sisters, Alzada “Aggie” Boyles (Gene) and Lavada “Vady” Payne (Arnold), and her young brother, Buddy. Euvalta loved telling stories about growing up in Simpson Creek community and walking with her neighbor friends and family to grade school at Simpson Creek Baptist Church. She recalled how they would cross the creek on logs and take sack lunches to school. She would graduate from Doniphan High School in 1955 and attend business classes where she learned short-hand, typing, and other administrative skills that she eventually put to good use when she worked at Vitronic, First National Bank, and managed Heritage Park Apartments. In the l980’s, Euvalta was the first assistant and office manager for her daughter’s Poplar Bluff business, Crews Chiropractic Life Center. On February 3, 1956, she married Larry C. Crews after only having met and dated since the previous December. They lived briefly in St. Louis, Missouri, before settling back home in Doniphan and living for the remainder of their 23-year marriage, when Larry passed away on November 19, 1979. They had two daughters. Vicky Lynn was stillborn on November 9, 1957. Rochelle Mae “Shelly” Crews Jones was born March 18, 1959. Shelly survives (Columbia, SC), along with Tooter’s only grandchildren, Pierce Arthur (Nashville, TN) and Charlotte Mae (New York, NY). She is also survived by several cousins, nieces, and nephews. Her jobs allowed her to meet and interact daily with several people so Euvalta will always be remembered for her smile, customer service, and work ethic, but Tooter was really the ultimate homemaker. She loved ‘keeping house’ and made you feel special with everyday tasks. She excelled at the skill to make you feel at home and comfortable. Growing up with a big garden that was hand-tilled and cultivated by her dad, she and her mom and sisters learned to routinely preserve and can foods to enjoy year-round. She could cook a pot of green beans and ham all day till they were perfect! She sent cupcakes to school parties, mailed care packages of homemade cookies and candy to her grandchildren, and made sure to have favorite dishes ready-to-eat when you came over to visit. Tooter loved to watch cooking shows and then make whatever caught her interest. It didn’t matter how easy or difficult the recipe, she would search out a special gadget or pan and then recreate whatever she saw on her favorite show. She would share her cookie and candy-making during the holidays with a batch of peanut brittle, divinity, or fudge. Larry went fishing and hunting and Tooter would turn it into the crunchiest fried catfish and hushpuppies you ever tasted. It was easy for her to make fresh biscuits or bread at a moment’s notice. She made sure to pass along the traditions and spent many patient hours teaching her daughter and grandchildren how to snap beans, make Red Velvet cake, and cook pot roast. Cooking was one of the ways she showed her love, and we all felt very loved by Tooter. In her personal interests and past-time, Tooter was an avid reader. She made weekly trips to the public library when she lived in Doniphan, which turned out to be much easier than trying to learn how to use her Nook when she could no longer drive! She relied on her grandchildren to teach her how to use her iPad or flip phone. Each visit they would sit with her on the couch and write down instructions on how to use her remote control and devices. She never mastered those skills and remained convinced it was because something was wrong with the phone or the TV! She loved to crochet and embroider, passing along those skills to her daughter and grandchildren, too. She made many afghans and quilts her family will always treasure. A Memorial Service to celebrate Euvalta’s life and legacy will be held in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel on Monday, November 29, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. Her final resting place will be at Oak Grove Cemetery with her husband and first-born daughter. Memorials may be made in her name to St. Jude's Children's Hospital.