Mary Watkins Crane

Mary Watkins Crane, recently of Traverse City, MI died on December 28, 2025. She is remembered by family and friends as imbuing a “wonderful”, “bright”, and “optimistic” energy. Mary was born on January 6, 1940 in Evanston, IL to Jesse Mather Watkins, Jr. and Evelyn Rose Metcalf Watkins. She grew up in Highland Park, IL and was a graduate of Highland Park High School’s class of 1958. Mary graduated with a BA from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1962 with a major in U.S. History and a minor in Dance. While a student at UC Boulder she pledged and served as the President of the Alpha Phi sorority and danced in several university productions. She married fellow UC Boulder graduate, Frank Seymour Crane, IV on April 13, 1962. Mary lived in numerous communities over the course of her life. The family followed her husband Frank’s career in healthcare administration from Toronto, Canada, to Buffalo, NY, Fairfield County, CT, suburban Boston, and East Kingston, NH. The couple then retired to Grand Rapids and Glen Arbor, MI, to be near the Watkins family cottage on Lake Michigan. Their final two years were spent in Traverse City, MI, and Mary had just moved into Cordia at Grand Traverse Commons at the time of her death. Mary was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was predeceased by her husband in September 2024 and is survived by two of their three children, Mary Abigail Crane (David Goldman of Scarsdale, NY) and Frank S. Crane IV (Caroline Stirn Crane of Staten Island, NY). Beloved daughter, Sarah Elizabeth Crane, predeceased her in 2011. Mary has four grandchildren, Claire and Charles Crane, and Samuel and Benjamin Goldman. Mary was the youngest of three daughters and was predeceased by both sisters: Katharine Watkins Wylde (Hendersonville, NC), and Judith Church Watkins (Decatur, GA). She was predeceased by two brothers in law, John Crane and William Crane. Mary is survived by her three sisters in law: Jennifer Crane (Fort Collins, CO), Edith Massier (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico) and Betsey Jurney (Cedaredge, CO). She is also survived by her devoted nephews Alan Wylde (Sally) of Northampton, MA, James Wylde (Karen Gladbach) of Arlington VA, and Eric Wylde (Lisa) of Morganton, NC, as well as great and great- great nieces and nephews. Throughout her life, Mary enjoyed spending as much time as possible on the shores of Lake Michigan outside Glen Arbor. She was an active member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, an engaged member in her communities' Presbyterian and Congregationalist churches, and a volunteer for numerous organizations over the course of her life including the Junior League and Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear. Mary was a gifted and generous knitter, a talented wordsmith, and an entertaining and prolific correspondent. If you wish to make a donation in Mary's memory, please select a charity of your choice or consider Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear (https://phsb.org/). Arrangements will be announced at a later date. Interment will take place in Leelanau County, Michigan.

Mary Watkins Crane

January 6, 1940 - December 28, 2025