Frieda Jane Crandall

March 10, 1924 - September 11, 2020

Our precious mother and grandmother, “Fredi” or Frieda Jane Groves Crandall, age 96, of Tulsa, departed to seek out new adventures September 11, 2020. She was born March 10, 1924 in Oklahoma City to Elmer and Florence Groves. She was predeceased by her husband, Lawrence Crandall, her parents, and her siblings, Dorothy Hearn and Marvin Groves. Marvin’s wife, Bobbie Groves, survives, as well as Fredi’s five children and their spouses: Linda and John Harless, Larry Crandall, John and Alice Crandall, Jane and Scott Longan, and Susan Crandall and Ed Aldrich. She is also survived by eight grandchildren and approximately 25 great and great great grandchildren. Fredi married at age 17 to Lawrence Decatur Crandall III, who served in the Army during World War II. During the early years she worked for McDonnell Douglas, contributing to the war effort and also spent some time studying art at college. Eventually she became a full-time mother to five children and although she did not work outside the home, she was always busy. Fredi sewed many of our clothes and taught herself to do carpentry, building shelves, room partitions or anything she hungered for to improve her home. She could wield a power saw, mix concrete, lay bricks and was almost always engaged in some type of project. Fredi also taught adult Sunday school, published the church newspaper, and sang in the choir. She was a voracious reader of mysteries and magazines and she religiously read the newspaper from front to back each day. Fredi also wrote many short stories and a biography of a local Indian chief, although they were never published. She loved gardening and growing flowers, particularly her beloved irises. It was difficult to keep her plantings, since the front yard served as the neighborhood baseball field. The crepe myrtle near first base was never able to get more than a foot tall. Fredi enjoyed collecting art and using her own skills to create drawings, holiday decorations and birthday cards for all of us down to the youngest family member. She also collected a great number of books and had a working knowledge of many subjects. After getting her children off to various levels of school and some semblance of independence, she became ambitious to take up more self-fulfilling activities, taking driving lessons and earning her first driver’s license in her early forties. Not long after, she took a job at Multi-Color in Tulsa, using her art and people skills to rise to the position of Art Director. Fredi’s adventures continued during her working life and into retirement. She travelled, often with her sister, Dot, and her youngest daughter, Sue. She camped at the lake with grandchildren many times, toured New York and visited Texas and Florida beaches. Most of all, she loved interacting with people. Whether she knew you well, or at all, was of no consequence. She had a million stories and she couldn’t wait to tell you one. Fredi always made an impression. Let’s be truthful. She was known by her children and grandchildren as “The Embellisher,” (a nicer term than exaggerator or just plain liar). She did like to liven up a story, even over our strenuous objections. Thanks to her, ours is a laughing family, although we do try our hardest to make each other cry happy/sentimental tears whenever the opportunity arises. Fredi raised us children to be caring, compassionate, hardworking, imaginative, funny, determined and God loving. Whether we meet those high expectations, she certainly provided the example. All of our friends growing up thought of her has as a funny second mom and still do. We will continue her legacy by telling stories with, or without our own embellishment. Of course, many of the stories will be about her. In lieu of a traditional service, Jane and Scott will be hosting a Celebration of Life from 2:00 until 5:00 on Sunday, October 11, 2020.