Mary E. (Supplee) Crabtree
Mary Eleanor (Supplee) Crabtree, wife of the late Isaac A. (Ike) Crabtree passed away last month, at Spring Mill Senior Living, Phoenixville, after a short bout with covid 19. Mary was born in 1921, in Narvon Township, PA, to Grant and Anna (Guest) Supplee, two school teachers, who raised their family on their farm. She was preceded in death by her parents and thirteen siblings: Thomas, Lawrence, Benjamin, Philip, Donald, Joseph, David, Charles, Ernest, Margaret, Alice, Rebecca, and Florence. As fourth oldest, Mary and her sister Margaret, who were in their teens, took charge of raising the younger siblings when their mother died of cancer. Mary’s beloved granddaughter, Laurie Alloway also preceded her, passing suddenly at age 38.
Mary is survived by her children, Cynthia Alloway, wife of Thomas, Donald Crabtree and wife Bonnie, Virginia Estock, Deborah Crabtree, Robert Crabtree and wife Sandra. Also, nine grand children, three great grand children, and four great-great grand children.
Mary served her country by working at the Defense Distribution Center in Middletown, PA, where she met and married Isaac Crabtree, who was serving in the US Navy. They moved to Phoenixville, where they rented from her beloved Aunt Nora and Uncle Alfred Simmers and their daughter Vivian Roberts, husband George and family, as neighbors. At this time, her father died, and her sister, Rebecca Supplee, 14, came to live with them and graduated from Phoenixville High School in 1951. In 1953 the Crabtree’s moved to Columbia Ave. in Phoenixville and raised their five children and became part of a family of neighbors who looked out for Mary when she lived by herself until her mid-nineties. Mary worked full time at many jobs, retiring after 25 years at CPI in Trooper, PA.
Mary also had a family at the Senior Center, where she sang with Mr. Myers Choir, traveling to sing for many events. She attended exercise classes twice a week, and was known to be a competitive scrabble queen.
Mary enjoyed bowling in the senior leagues at Phoenix Lanes and at Limerick Bowl with her many friends. Mary also worked the polls at West End Firehouse after she retired. She was inducted into the PA Voters Hall of Fame for voting in 50 consecutive general elections. Lisa Thomas Laurie, with Action News, Interviewed Mary at Limerick Bowl and made her a celebrity!
Finally, her most faithful and supportive family was the First Methodist Church 865 Main St. Phoenixville, Pa 19460, where everyone loved and supported her and she had so many life- long friends. They served each other well. Mary’s last request was that any donations be made in her name to the church.
A memorial service will be held at the church at a yet to be determined time, near what would have been Mary’s One Hundredth Birthday.