Doris Crockford

Doris M. Crockford, 81, of the Pinnacle area near Essex, died of cancer at Kalispell Regional Medical Center on Oct. 9, 2012.

She was born Nov. 29, 1930, in Los Angeles to Thomas and Leora Lindsay Driscoll. She was reared in Los Angeles, where she attended St. Agnes Catholic schools, graduating in 1948.

She married William R. “Bill” Crockford in Los Angeles on Feb. 11, 1950. Following his discharge from the U.S. Marine Corps, they moved to Shelby, briefly returning to Southern California in 1952 before settling again in Shelby that year. They later moved to Cut Bank, then to Fort Benton, where they lived for about 18 years.

During their years in Fort Benton, Doris was active in the PTA, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, the local community theater group and in various other volunteer endeavors. In June 1973, the family returned to Cut Bank, where they lived for 23 years.

In Cut Bank, she was active in St. Margaret’s Catholic Church, the school parents organization and the Cursillos in Christianity movement and had various other volunteer affiliations. Doris also worked at Glacier County Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home in Cut Bank, first as a volunteer and later as the activity director.

In 1996, following the high school graduation of their youngest daughter, Doris and Bill moved to the family cabin at Pinnacle, west of Essex, where they lived together until his death in November 2007. She has been a member of St. Richard’s Catholic Church in Columbia Falls for the past 16 years.

Doris was an avid reader and lifelong learner, particularly in regard to matters relating to her Catholic faith. As a homemaker, she set high standards for her children that continue to ensure their success in life.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and an infant twin brother.

Doris is survived by sons Dick Crockford and wife Debbie, of Dillon, Tom Crockford and wife Gina, of Boise, Idaho, Paul Crockford and wife Shirley, of Shelby, Patrick Crockford and wife Veronica, of Lemoore, Calif., and Christopher Crockford, of Billings; daughters Theresa Norman and husband Matt, of Great Falls, Mary Ellen Crockford, of Helena and Mary Crockford, of Missoula; sisters Patricia Carlson, of Long Beach, Calif., and Margaret Rickey, of Petaluma, Calif.; 11 grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass for Doris was held at St. Richard’s Catholic Church on Oct. 12, 2012. Burial of cremated remains will be in St. Richard’s Cemetery, Columbia Falls.