Lois Jean VanNess was born at the home of her grandparents, Victor and Ina (Simcoe) VanNess, Springfield Township, on February 1, 1935. She died on January 27, 2015 at her home surrounded by her family after a battle with leukemia since 2011.
Her grandmother named her “Tucker” and she carried that nickname the rest of her life. Her parents were Lester “Jack” VanNess and Freda (Cobleigh) VanNess Sweet. She graduated from Troy High School in 1952. On August 23, 1953 she married H. Dewaine Crandell better known as “Tink” and they enjoyed 46 years of marriage before his death in January of 2000, the year she retired from BLaST IU 17.
Tucker started her secretarial career at American LaFrance at the age of 17, then the Troy Pennysaver, Troy High School, Acme Markets in the meat department, and in 1963 became employed by the Bradford County Schools which later became Intermediate Unit #17. Her retirement years have been filled with cleaning for others, caring for her great grandson, being active in the Bradford County Historical Society and her community. She was on the Historical Society Board for more than 40 years, having been secretary, treasurer, doing the cleaning and participating in all the activities. Two of her greatest honors were to be selected as Secretary Of The Year in Towanda and induction into the Troy Bowling Hall of Fame. She was always busy caring for someone else and getting the family together. She loved Christmas when the little ones opened their gifts. She will be sadly missed by her grandchildren, family and friends.
She was very active in the East Troy Baptist Church and was immersed at the age of 70. She belonged to the Bradford County Historical Society, Sayre Historical Society, Leroy Heritage, Troy Heritage, Republican Women, Wheel Inn, and Troy Legion Auxiliary. She bowled for many years in Towanda as well as Troy. She has been active on the committee reviving the Troy High School Alumni Association. She and her husband belonged to Camptown Civic Clubs when the first Camptown Race started in the 1960’s. She was always willing to lend a hand to anyone who needed something done and loved cleaning for the elderly and her family. Her son once commented “The only place where you could wear something today and tomorrow it would be clean and back in your dresser.”
She is survived by four sons: Kim, Brian (Cindy), Chris (Julie), in the Troy area and Roger (Marianne) from VA. She had six grandchildren: Nicole Watkins, Ashley (Rodney) Morgan, Shaun (Karyn) Crandell, Andrea Crandell, Nick and Kristine Crandell. She had Landon, Ashlin and Memphis Crandell, Hunter Watkins, Parker Morgan, Kennedie Finogle, Bentley Morgan, and soon to be born Kingston Crandell, all the joy of her life. Tucker is also survived by her sister-in-law Linda VanNess, previous sister-in-law Glenda Avery, her special aunt Peg Cobleigh and special niece Paula, nephews and cousins, and special friend Genny Ennis from Towanda.
Tucker was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, step-dad Richie Sweet, her brother William VanNess, in-laws Fay and Minnie (Chamberlain) Crandell, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Smokey and Pat (Seeley) Crandell, and niece Corinne VanNess Erwin.
Family and friends are welcome to call from 11:00 am- 1:00 pm on Saturday, January 31, 2015 at the First Baptist Church of Troy, 579 Canton Street, Troy, PA. The celebration of her life will follow the visitation at the church at 1:00 pm on Saturday, January 31st with her pastor, Rev. Garry Zuber officiating. Burial will be private at the convenience of her family in Glenwood Cemetery. The Gerald W. Vickery, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. 1093 West Main Street Troy, PA has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Memorials may be made in to the East Troy Baptist Church, PO Box 21,Troy, PA 16947 or to the Bradford County Historical Society, 109 Pine St. Towanda, PA 18848. The family would like to thank Dr. Husband, Dr. Hicks, Dr. Dauphin and their staffs, Laura, Debbie, Mary, Pat- the nurses at the Falck Cancer Center and everyone who encouraged her through her battle with leukemia and heart issues. She is now one of God’s angels smiling down on you. May you be blessed by having known her.
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