Obituary of Muriel Alison Crowder

Muriel Alison Crowder passed away Sunday, February 3, 2008 at her home at the Beverly Care Centre in Calgary at the age of 94 years. Muriel Alison Crowder was the youngest of five children of Margaret and Frank Butterfield of Maymont, SK. She grew up on the farm where everyone worked hard to farm the land and make a living for the family. At an early age it became apparent that she had considerable musical talent, and she was able to study music for many years. In 1933 she was presented with her music degree, Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Music for which she worked very hard. She attended Normal School in Saskatoon, and became a teacher. She taught in small towns in Saskatchewan where the schools were often one or two rooms, with many grades to each room. It was in 1942 that she met Robert Crowder, the new Minister at the Anglican Church in Maymont, and fell in love, and married in August 1943. They started a life together as the minister, and the musician. Muriel was able to play the organ at many of the church services throughout the various parishes at which Robert was placed. In rural Saskatchewan, it was a great advantage and joy for the two of them to work together. Muriel worked hard to keep up with her music, and after the two children, Louise and Gordon, were a little older, she went back to teaching school full time, gave private music lessons to many young people over the years, and took great pleasure at becoming an artist. She was also dedicated to the Church, and she joined many women’s groups to support and build the church community and spread its messages. As she grew older she continued with her music, playing and helping at many nursing homes in Calgary. For over twenty-five years Muriel was a volunteer with the Calgary hospitals, first at the General Hospital and then with the Rockyview General Hospital. Both she and Robert volunteered at the Rockyview General Hospital for many years together. She started in the Gift Shop, and graduated to taking care of the many plants in patient wards. Muriel was known to all as a dear, gracious, lovely lady, with a genuine interest in all those she met. She gave all of herself to her husband, her family, her music and to the Church. She will be remembered by us all and especially by her family who loved her dearly. Muriel is survived by her daughter Louise Clarke and son and daughter-in-law Gordon and Allison Crowder, her four grandchildren, Jacquie, Chad, Jennifer, and Brian, and four great grandchildren, Ryan, Dylan, Alan, and Harley. Muriel is also survived by one brother Robert Butterfield, of Ontario, age 95 years and by many nieces and nephews. She lost her beloved husband of sixty-four years, Archdeacon Robert B. Crowder, in April 2007. Memorial Service will be held at St. Peter’s Anglican Church (903 – 75th Avenue South West) on Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to The Alzheimer Society of Calgary, Suite 201, 222 – 58th Avenue S.W., Calgary, AB T2H 2S3, Telephone: (403)290-0110, www.alzheimercalgary.com. In living memory of Muriel Crowder, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES Park Memorial Chapel, 5008 ELBOW DRIVE S.W. Telephone: (403) 243-8200