Roxie Jewell Crelia

Roxie Jewell Crelia, age 101, of Anderson, Mo., was called to heaven on Friday, Feb. 24, 2012, at her residence, with her loving family by her side. How do you try to record the details of a life like Roxie J. Crelia? Words cannot begin to convey how phenomenal she was. Roxie was born in Geary, Okla., on Aug. 17, 1910, only four years after Oklahoma became a state, her parents having moved there while Oklahoma was still Indian Territory. Her parents, Curtis L. and Willie (Parker) Sellers originally, from Tennessee, had six children. Roxie was the second. She lost two sisters and a brother while she was growing up. Roxie graduated high school in 1928 and married William Crelia on Oct. 21, 1930, in Geary, Okla.. Together they moved to Lamar, Okla., and had seven children: Alvin C. Crelia - deceased; Thadeen Hall of Cleveland, Okla.; Patsy Stuckey of Guthrie, Okla.; Marie Crelia of Edmond, Okla.; Paul Crelia of Huntington, Ark.; Mamie Sue Crelia - deceased; and Billy Duane Crelia - deceased. Their family raised corn and peanuts during the depression. Her husband passed away in 1961 after a long battle with cancer. Roxie and the youngest children stayed on the farm for two years before moving to Huntington, Ark., near where her parents had retired. Her oldest son and his wife were killed in 1967, and Roxie began raising their five children - Donna Fuller of Anderson, Mo.; Elaine Mobley of Booneville, Ark.; Teresa Sauer of Coral Springs, Fla.; Al Crelia of Van Buren, Ark.; and Loretta Erickson of Centerton, Ark. She was also preceded in death by her siblings, Myrtle Lee Sellers, Eva Sellers, Curtis Sellers Jr. and Nancy Gordon. Roxie had lived in Centerton, Ark., for five years with Loretta Erickson and family; a short time in Edmond, Okla., with Marie Crelia; two years in Huntington, Ark., with Paul Crelia and wife, Donna. She spent her last two years in Anderson, Mo., with Tony and Donna Fuller and their family. All of her life Roxie was a faithful member of a Baptist church, wherever she lived. She loved the Lord and was an avid Bible student. Her fervent desire was for all her children and grand-children to know and serve the Lord. Roxie is survived by one sister, Joyce S. Moore-Carney of Lavaca, Ark.; two sons; eight daughters; 28 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren, and numerous loved ones. Funeral services for Roxie Jewell Crelia will be held Monday, Feb. 27, 2012, at 11 a.m. at the Walker-Dowd Funeral Home Chapel in Anderson, Mo. Pastor Stuart Bell will officiate. Visitation will be held on Monday, Feb. 27, 2012, immediately following the service until 1 p.m., the family will receive friends at this time. A second funeral service will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012, at noon at the Dayton Baptist Church in Dayton, Ark. Pastor Joe Davis will officiate. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the service time at the church, the family will receive friends at this time. Burial will follow in the Coop-Prairie Cemetery in Mansfield, Ark.. Online condolences may be sent to the family online at www.walker-dowd.com. Arrangements are under the personal care of Walker-Dowd Funeral Home, of Anderson, Mo. 417-845-1234.