Delores Jean "Dee" Crane
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3D Obituary - March 22, 2020
Delores “Dee”
Jean Crane
August 20, 1936 - March 13, 2020
Delores “Dee” Jean Crane, 83,
of Whitewater, passed away at
her home on Friday, March 13,
2020.
Dee was born on August
20, 1936, in Denver, Colorado
and moved to Grand Junction
in 1952. She graduated from
Grand Junction High School
and received her teaching degree from Texas Lutheran College in
Seguin, Texas and her Master’s Degree from Western State College
in Gunnison, Colorado.
Dee was a well-known and admired retired elementary school
teacher and principal for 48 years in School District 51, her last
position being Principal of Taylor Elementary School in Palisade,
Colorado for 36 of those years. After retiring, she was a substitute
teacher and volunteer at Taylor for ten more years.
Dee was a servant in the best sense of the word. Her life was spent
making others a better version of themselves. She was a cowgirl at
heart who was most comfortable in a pair of jeans. The Grand Mesa
was her little slice of heaven and she knew it like the back of her
hand. All animals knew they were safe on her property and used
it as their personal playground, much to Dee’s delight. Teaching
children was her absolute joy.
She is survived by her sister, Carole Kniffy Hamilton (Larry);
nephew, John McConnaughey and great-niece, Nakayla
McConnaughey, of Morehead City, North Carolina.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Crane; mother,
Olive Kniffen; and step-father, Charles Kniffen.
The family would like to thank her loyal friend, Irene Binggeli,
and faithful caregiver, Mari Wozniak, for their continuous devotion
to her care.
A celebration of life event will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions can be made in her name to Roice-Hur
