Lenore Christian Crofford

Lenore C. Crofford died early Friday, December 9, 2011, with her daughters in attendance, at her home at Solterra Senior Living in Lakeside, Arizona. She had recently spent a joyful Thanksgiving with her children in Goodyear, Arizona. Lenore was born in Minnesota on July 11, 1921, the sixth of eight children in a farming family. She attended and graduated from registered nursing school then, in 1944, responded to her sense of adventure by taking a train to Holbrook then automobile to McNary, Arizona to work for the McNary Hospital. Toward the end of World War II, Lenore met her future husband, John Crofford, Jr. They married and moved to Mesa, Arizona where they raised a family of four children. After John's retirement in 1979, they moved and made their home in Lakeside, Arizona, but Lenore wasn't yet ready for retirement. She worked part-time in obstetrics at the IHS in Whiteriver for seven years then obtained her real estate license in which she worked for a few years. Lenore loved sewing, crocheting, taking walks in the outdoors, was an avid Diamondbacks fan, and especially enjoyed socializing with friends and family and building relationships, with new residents at Solterra Senior Living in Lakeside. She recently served as the President of the Residents' Council at Solterra. She is preceded in death by her husband, John Crofford, Jr., and, in her later years, by her companion, Warren G. Heimbach. Lenore is survived by her children: Sharon (Crofford) and Richard Gilpin of Lakeside, Arizona, Tim and Glenda Crofford of Glendale, Arizona, Patsy Crofford of Flagstaff, Arizona, Steve and Tanis Crofford of Gilbert, Arizona; her grandchildren: Amy Gilpin of Lakeside, Arizona and Airman Gunner Crofford of Tacoma, Washington. A memorial service will begin 1:30 P.M., Saturday, December 17, 2011 at Solterra Senior Living, 5408 Highway 260 in Lakeside, Arizona. The committal service and inurnment will begin 1:30 P.M., Friday, January 13, 2012 at The National Memorial Cemetery, 23029 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, Arizona (Northeast corner of Cave Creek and Pinnacle Peak Road). Memorial contributions to the White Mountain Hospice Foundation, P.O. Box 1975, Lakeside, Arizona 85929 or to St. Rita's Catholic Church, 1400 E. Owens, Show Low, Arizona 85901 have been suggested by her family.