Mary J. Crimmel

Born June 23, 1938, in Locust Run, to J. Harold and Ruth S. Jones, Mary grew up between Locust Run and Mexico. She was a longtime member of Mexico Presbyterian Church and later in life attended Cedar Grove Brethren In Christ Church. She played piano at Mexico and spoke with fond remembrance of that in later years.

Mary graduated from Juniata Joint High School in 1956 and Harrisburg School of Nursing in 1959. She married Robert (Bob) Crimmel on March 25, 1961. Upon graduation she accepted a job at West Chester Hospital in the maternity ward where she worked until 1964 before returning with her family to Juniata County as West Chester was getting ‘too built up’. She worked at Lewistown Hospital from 1964 until her retirement in 1993 experiencing tens of thousands of births over that time. Many people knew Mary in her nursing career. After a successful career, she opted for an early retirement to spend time with children and grandchildren.

Anyone who knew Mary knows family was everything to her. She found her joy in family activities, including kids in sports and their careers, grandkids in dance, sports and academic excellence, great-grand kids in dance, gym and just enjoying their visits and hugs in later years. Always asking ‘what’s going on with the kids?’ and always taking an overseeing back seat in this ride we call life. She was a dedicated wife, daughter, Meemee and Great-Meemee.

Mary is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Glenda Crimmel, of Harrisburg, her daughter and son-in-law, Sue and Clay MacTarnaghan, of Mifflintown, her son and daughter-in- law, Mike and Leann Crimmel, of Mifflintown, grandchildren, Kevin Crimmel and his wife, Brianna, of Harrisburg, Kyle Crimmel, of Harrisburg, Nick Bodley, of Harrisburg, Neil Bodley, of Wormleysburg and fiancÈ, Abby Hawley of York, Nate Bodley, of Spokane, Washington, Eric Crimmel, of Mifflintown and Erin Crimmel, of Millersville, great-grandchildren, Charlotte Ann, Kennedy Rose and Everett Banks Crimmel, of Harrisburg, a sister-in-law, Jeanne Jones and several nieces and nephews. She also has three step grandchildren, Claymore, Gavin and Amanda.

She was preceded in death by two brothers, Darwin E. Jones and H. Richard Jones as well as sister-in-laws, Helen Sieber and June Jones and brother-in-law, Richard Sieber.

A visitation for time with the family will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9 at Cedar Grove BIC Church, 287 Deerville Rd, Mifflintown with a memorial service at 11 a.m. with Rev. Ken Hepner officiating. Interment will immediately follow at Union Memorial Garden Cemetery Mifflintown. A memorial luncheon will be hosted by the family at Cedar Grove Church after the interment.

If you so desire, memorial contributions can be made in Mary’s name to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, P.O. Box 4777, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163 to continue to fight this terrible disease. If you are interested in donating locally please send a donation in Mary’s name to Cedar Grove Brethren in Christ Church, 287 Deerville Rd, Mifflintown, PA 17059.

The Family would also like to thank all the caregivers who helped Mary as well as The UPMC Family Hospice nurses and aides.

Guss Funeral Home, Inc., 20 S. Third St., Mifflintown is assisting the family with the arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.gussfh.com.