Dolores Crandell

Dolores (Dee) Crandell (89) of Bellingham, Washington, passed away peacefully into the waiting arms of our Lord and Savior on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Bellingham, Wa. 

Dee was born to Gottlieb and Lydia Kammerer on April 29, 1930, in Racine, Wisconsin. She was preceded in death by both of her parents, her husband of 65 years, William (Bill), her daughter Debbie, and her sister Esther. 

She is survived in death by her son Robert, her daughter Cheryl, and her son in law, Timothy as well as her grandchildren, Tia and her husband Matt, Trevor and his wife Teresa, Tara, Travis, Derek, and Matthew, and her great-grandchildren, Dakota (21), Montana (16), Jordan (15), Brian (14), Hannah (13), Joey (11), and Summer (9), her sisters Elsie and Dorothy, and numerous nieces and nephews...not to mention the many friends of her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids who also got the privilege of calling her 'Mom' or 'Grandma.'

Dee was born in Wisconsin but moved to Washington when she was only 7 or 8 years old. Her childhood and teenage years were spent helping run the family farm...a time she always remembered fondly and which provided many stories and tales she would tell to each of her kids and grandkids. Whether it was getting up and feeding the cows at 5 in the morning, helping pick beans, or setting the table for dinner she could turn any story into a lesson on hard work and unconditional love; something she never failed to recognize she had received from her own parents. 

She graduated from Ferndale High School in 1948 and soon after met Bill. The story was told many times of the night he walked into the skating rink, he made her radar, and she told her sister, "That's the man I'm going to marry." They celebrated 3 children and 65 years together before he beat her to the gates of Heaven.

Out of high school, Dee worked a few odd jobs but found her enjoyment when she became a meat wrapper; a job she remembered warmly and a career she took pride in until she was diagnosed with arthritis, forced her into retirement in 1977. But, whatever job she put her time and energy into, nothing had her heart and soul like being a mom and grandma and sharing with them the love of Jesus Christ.

Each and every one of us can tell you of a moment when she talked to us about the Lord, explained what it meant to be a Christian, a prayed the salvation prayer with us. Her love for her family was only outreached by her love of Jesus, and not a day went by that she didn't pray for us. When she was sad, she prayed. Happy, she prayed. Worried, she prayed. Confused, she prayed. She always prayed. And she always prayed her thanks in every situation. Her faith was steadfast and unwavering. 

Her love for her family was much the same. Unconditional and absolute. No matter what we put her through...and we each put her through something...her love was unlimited and unquestioning and she just prayed for us all the more. We've all said at one time or another that her constant and passionate prayers saved us more than once... physically AND spiritually. She was our constant encourager...Our believer...our prayer warrior...and our families own saint. 

Her stories of farm life, high school, dating, and married life will be affectionately remembered. The stories of her parents and sisters and the immense love she held for them will be passed down from us to those that are still to come. Her ceaseless and unrelenting prayers will be greatly missed and coveted when life happens and we so much wish she was there to hug us and tell us that the Lord is holding us tight. And, our kids will tell their kids and grandkids of the woman who lived her life for Jesus...of the prayer warrior who shined her light on all those she came in contact with, just by being HER.

The bible says there is one way to Heaven. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes unto the Father but by me." (John 14:6) This "one way" is to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior and follow God's plan for our life which are laid out in the bible. "For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph. 2:8-9)"For God SO loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

As we continually dry our tears and our thoughts constantly remind us of the things we will miss about her HERE, our hearts are joyous. She's been reunited with her Daddy, her Mama, her husband, her daughter, and her sister...and she's finally heard the words she's longed to hear since the moment she whispered to the Lord, "I'm Yours,"

"Well done, my good and faithful servant. Welcome Home."