Mary Louise (Fry) Craven

March 21, 1913 – March 2, 2006

Mary Louise Craven, 92, died Thursday, March 2, 2006, in Tempe, AZ. A memorial service will be held at Friendship Village, 2645 E. Southern Ave., Tempe, on Wednesday, March 8, at 3:00 p.m. A private burial will be held at Paradise Memorial Gardens in Scottsdale. Mrs. Craven was born March 21, 1913, in Harrisburg, PA, and spent many years of her life in South Bend and Mishawaka, IN, before moving to Arizona in 1979.

She was a homemaker who raised four children and served her church and community in many volunteer capacities. She served on the Session of both the 1st Presbyterian Church in Mishawaka, IN, and Scottsdale Presbyterian Church, Scottsdale, AZ. She was currently a member of 1st Presbyterian Church, Mesa, AZ, and received the Senior Service Award for outstanding service to the Presbyterian Church of Arizona in 2000. Mary Lou graduated from National College of Education in Evanston, IL, and taught nursery school before marrying Frederic Craven on January 26, 1935.

Fred and Mary Lou raised their family in Mishawaka, IN, where they were instrumental in bringing the American Field Service exchange student program to Mishawaka High School and were hosts to two AFS students. Mary Lou was active in PTA, served as the Indiana State President of Laubach Literacy, organized the Company of Compassion which supported social service and literacy work in Ecuador, served on the planning committee for the building of the Family YMCA in Mishawaka, and received the Mishawaka Woman of the Year award in 1959 for ‘’serving as a leader in civic matters and as an inspiration to her community.”

Mary Lou’s Christian faith was the driving force in her life.She was a leader for Camp Farthest Out, a member of Faith at Work, several ecumenical groups, and formed many prayer and Bible study groups. She was an avid letter writer and kept in touch with family and friends all over the world, touching many lives with her love and compassion.

Mrs. Craven was predeceased by her husband of 62 years, Frederic H. Craven; parents, Benjamin and Catharine Fry; sister, Phyllis Fry Acker; and granddaughter, Deborah Potts Solliday.

Survivors include daughters, Susan Potts and husband, Joseph, Scottsdale, AZ, and Ann Yeoman, Houston, TX; sons, Davis Craven and wife, Judy West River, MD, Thomas Craven and wife, Francine, Chadds Ford, PA; grandchildren, Jennifer Potts, Caroline Gill and husband, Denny, Christopher Yeoman and wife, Liz, Sarah Bauguss and husband, Jeff, and Frank Craven; and six great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to 1st Presbyterian Church, 161 N. Mesa Drive, Mesa, AZ 85201, for Laubach Literacy.

Sources: Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com and FindAGrave.com

04/07/2025 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107932965/mary-louise-craven