We lost an angel and heaven gained one as Elizabeth “Betty” J. McCort Crahan, of Gnadenhutten, was called home from Riverside Manor in Newcomerstown, early Tuesday morning of January 9, 2018. She was 95.

            Betty was born in Atlas, a small village in Belmont County, on May 7, 1922, to the late Nicholas P. and Jessie (Fogle) McCort. She grew up in Malaga, Ohio and graduated from Beallsville High School in 1940. She then married her husband, of almost 45 years, the late John Crahan on August 17, 1942.

            Betty lived in Gnadenhutten for 58 years where she was a member of the Gnadenhutten United Methodist Church, was part of the United Methodist Women, and worked as the church financial secretary for many years. She also worked for the Gnadenhutten Public Library and volunteered at the coffee bar at Twin City Hospital, in Dennison.

            Betty loved to share stories of her happy childhood in Malaga, and also enjoyed crossword puzzles, writing poetry, and following the local sports teams and the Cleveland Indians.

            Betty was a devoted mother to her four children who survive; Martin (Therese) Crahan of Seattle, WA, Cathy (Bob) Fuller of Strasburg, Casey (Ruby) Crahan of Fairfax VA, and Kerry (Ed) Eckhardt of Strasburg. She is also survived by grandchildren, Katie (Brian) Kaku, Moreen (Bruce) Streukens, Michael Crahan, Chris (Resa) Murphy, Elizabeth (Jason) Quillin, Ryan and Shelby Crahan, and Conor, Austin, and Brynn Eckhardt, four great-grandchildren, and a sister-in-law Cornelia McCort.

            Betty is preceded in death by her husband John, who died on June 11, 1987, a son Jon Christopher, two brothers Tom and Ed McCort, and two sisters Margaret Wain, and Virginia McCort. 

            Visitation and service will be held Friday January 12, 2018 from 10 AM to 12 PM with the service immediately following, starting at 12 PM. All will be held at the Gnadenhutten United Methodist Church, 220 North Walnut Street, Gnadenhutten, Ohio 44629. Pastor Seth Filburn will be officiating. Burial will follow the service at the Gnadenhutten-Clay Union Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Gnadenhutten United Methodist Church, or Community Hospice.