Margaret Delanor Crabtree beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Great Grandmother passed away peacefully on September 7, 2024 at the age of 79.
Margaret Delanor Backus was born in the Windy City of Chicago, Illinois to Lavina on April 24, 1945. Margie and her younger sister, Linda Lou, were raised in a loving home by Gus and Lavina Hausler. Margie graduated from Sandwich High School in 1964. She started a family and gave birth to four children. Life was met head on and she found herself and her children living in West Salem, Illinois in 1976.
Margie worked hard as a single mother. She took many small jobs to be home at the same time as her children. She was best known for working along with her parents and family at No Name restaurant, until she started her home daycare. She absolutely enjoyed these two careers and made many friends and loved many of the town’s children as her own.
On December 21, 1984, Margie married the love of her life, Skip Crabtree. Together they merged both their families into one loving family. Margie and Skip were able to watch not only their children, but their grandchildren and great grandchildren grow up into their own happy families. Margie and Skip’s marriage was definitely something to take lessons from – they are the perfect example of a great marriage.
In 2019, she discovered a great surprise. Margie had a few siblings that she was unaware of existing. Her brother David and his wife Jean were even able to come visit and bond much to the family and Margie’s delight.
Margie was very active in the church and raised her family to love God. She was also a strong member of the West Salem Zion United Methodist congregation. During her time as a Methodist Woman, she won the Joann Wiseman Woman of the Year award in 2015. She loved being able to provide comfort to families during their funeral dinners and helping with any Methodist Woman duties.
Margie had many artistic talents. She loved so many crafty hobbies. She could do oil paintings on canvases, painting ceramics, soft doll sculptures, crocheting, creating beautiful cross stitch pieces and sewing several projects. Some of her crochet projects included donating to families of angel babies. During her time doing this, she made countless tiny outfits.
Margie was also a member of the Red Hatters, where she gained several close friends. During Skip’s military career, she was part of Military Family Support, where she made multiple lasting friendships.
Margie was preceded in death by her mother and father, Lavina and Gustav Hausler; her baby brother, Charles Backus; her granddaughter Brittany Perkins; her son, Bryan Crabtree; and her daughter-in-law Sheri Lott.
Margie is survived by her wonderful husband of 39 years, Warren “Skip” Crabtree; her sister Linda Giese; brother David (Jean) Backus; children Patricia (Mike) Whan, Robert Lott, Anna (Brian) Heldenbrand, Laura (David) Pritchard, Tina (Mark) Brawdy, and Lee (Tammy) Crabtree. Also surviving are her grandchildren: Sam Whan, Heather Jo Whan, Brittany (Molly) lott, Brianna Lott, Billy Lott, Brayden (Megan) Knierim, Bevan Lott, Brody Lott, Bently Lott, Julia (Henry) Cary, Bradley (Desiree) Heldenbrand, Robyn Pritchard, Megan (Eric) Johnston, Brandon (Kristina) Perkins, Candace Crabtree and Vera Crabtree. Margie is also survived by her great grandchildren: Jacob Turner, Scarlett Johnston, Kaiden, Jade, Julianna Cary, William Heldenbrand, Zander Paul, and Oakleigh Perkins.
This wonderful lady was so full of love for all creatures. When she was growing up, there was a dog named Boots who went to the grocery store for the family, Her first fur baby was Toni, a chihuahua. When she married Skip, they adopted Axel. When he passed at age 14, she wanted another dog to fill her heart, so she got Teddy Bear. His ashes will be in her casket with her. Now she has Gracie and Ginger from the same litter, who are now 8 years old. For a little while she had Sweetie who passed two years ago.
Margie was loved and will be missed by so many. May she always rest in peace.
Visitation for Margie Crabtree will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday evening, September 11, 2024 at West Salem Zion Church in West Salem, Illinois. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at West Salem Zion Church in West Salem, Illinois. Burial to follow at the Moravian Cemetery in West Salem, Illinois.
Ingram Meridith Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.
Condolences are reviewed and published within 24 hours.
7 Condolences