Elizabeth C. Wallace

Elizabeth Crawford Wallace passed away unexpectedly on Monday, June 20, 2011. "Libby" was born in 1925 to Lillie Mae Christie and Nace Barnett Crawford, growing up in Louisiana and East Texas. Her husband, W.J., died in March. She and W.J. have three sons, David Bruce Wallace of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Jonathan Carter Wallace of Las Cruces, and James Crawford Wallace of Fresno, California. The Wallaces have also claimed as a son Jess Williams of Las Cruces, who has been a selfless caregiver to both of them for several years. Libby earned a Masters degree from Eastern New Mexico University after attending Lon Morris and McMurry Colleges. Libby and W.J. met in 1946 while students at McMurry and moved to New Mexico in 1948, where he enrolled in New Mexico A and M (now NMSU). Libby taught school in Deming, Mesilla Park, and Las Cruces for most of her life, specializing in bilingual elementary education. As a longtime member of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, she sang in the choir for many years, and helped select its beautiful pipe organ. She has long been an avid member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Kappa Kappa Iota, Daughters of the American Revolution, and Nile club. Libby was an enthusiastic bird watcher, often helping at the annual Audubon Society bird count. Besides her work and service in these volunteer organizations, she loved to travel and connect with people. Her home was often host to foreign students at NMSU, helping make Las Cruces a true home for their studies. Her siblings are Captain Nace Crawford, Jr. (Ret.) of Pensacola, Florida, Rev. Jim Crawford of Huntsville, Texas, and Jerusha Bartay of Missouri City, Texas. She is mourned by her daughters-in law: Alice (Jonathan), Cherie (James) and Jurian (David), as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. A funeral service will be held at St. Paul's United Methodist Church on Saturday, June 25, 2011, at 11 a.m. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's in her memory, which will support the conservation of the needlepoint kneeler cushions which Libby designed and helped create. PDF Printable Version