NATICK: Christine L. (Leavitt) Crowe, age 97, formerly of Groveland, a loving mother grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, died peacefully on February 20, 2015, at the Beaumont Rehab and Skilled Nursing Center in Natick, her home for the past three years. She was the beloved wife of the late Guy T. Crowe, LT USN (Ret.) for 65 years.
Born and raised in the Bradford section of Haverhill, she was a daughter of the late Urban and Florence (White) Leavitt. Christine graduated from Haverhill High School in 1934, and continued her education at a local business school. She then was employed as a bookkeeper at her father’s sporting goods store until World War II.
Christine enlisted in the WAVES in 1944, and served for the duration of the war. She specialized in working with weather maps to aid crossing the Atlantic either by air or sea. In this capacity she met Guy, a Naval Aviator. In 1947, Christine separated with the rank of Petty Officer First Class but Guy opted to remain with the Navy as a career. They married, and until his retirement made their home wherever he was stationed.
The Crowe’s were to have three children and Christine was determined to create a warm environment for her family wherever they settled. When in NY and NJ, Christine enjoyed working as a sales associate at Lord & Taylor. The family’s most enduring residence was in Winston Salem, NC, and while there she managed the Housekeeping Department at North Carolina Baptist Hospital. When Guy took on a new career as Chief Pilot and VP of Operations for MidPacific Airlines they moved to Hawaii and lived there for 9 years. Upon retiring, Christine and Guy settled in Myrtle Beach for many years prior to moving to Groveland in 2005.
Christine was adept at staying in touch with friends from all periods of her life and spent much time writing or chatting on the phone, catching up on the lives of those she loved. She adored her grandchildren and lived to see the birth of two great-grandsons. Her favorite pastimes were shopping and spoiling the young ones.
Predeceased by Guy in 2012, and their daughter, Cheryl Ann Crowe this past October, she is survived by a son, Lee Thomas Crowe and his wife Elizabeth Ann of Franklin; daughter, Debra Plugis and her husband John of Natick; her grandchildren, Erin and Nathan Winstanley, Vanessa Furnier, Hannah Foley, Michael Plugis and Christopher Plugis; two great-grandsons, Ethan and Brennan Winstanley; her son-in-law, Jim Robinson of Enfield, CT; and many nieces, nephews and their families. She was also the sister of the late Anne Leavitt and Laura Rutledge.
Her funeral service will be in the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common, on Saturday, March 7th at 10:00AM.
Visiting hours will be on Friday, 3 – 6PM. Donations may be made in Christine’s memory to Salmon VNA and Hospice, 42 Beaumont Drive, Northbridge, MA 01534.