Wan Dee Gafford-Crosson

Wan Dee Gafford-Crosson

A memorial service for Wan Dee Gafford-Crosson, 88, of Lake Kiowa, formerly of Sherman, are set for 11:00 am Saturday, June 16, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church in Sherman, with the Rev. Joe Ed Goolsby officiating, under the direction of Geo. J. Carroll & Son Funeral Home. A private burial will be held before the service. No visitation is planned.

Dee was born in Sherman on January 24, 1924 to Herbert and Maxine Whitten Howdeshell-Miller. She passed peacefully in Gainesville after a lengthy illness on June 5, 2012.

Dee attended school in Sherman and later graduated from T.W.U. with a Bachelor's in Home Economics. After college, Dee met the love of her life Bill Gafford. Together they raised four children in Sherman. Dee never met a stranger and enjoyed life to the fullest. She loved playing cards. She was a member of the Sherman Service League, the Stratford Club, and a volunteer at Wilson N. Jones. She was longtime member of the Woodlawn Country Club in Sherman and Red River Valley Golf Association, as well as Lake Kiowa's Women's Golf Association. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, gardening, painting, traveling, and entertaining friends and family. She taught school early in life, and was a travel agent later in life.

She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Bill and Angie Gafford of Lake Kiowa; son and daughter-in-law Ron and Rebecca Gafford of Dallas; daughter Suzanne Gafford Gladen of Sherman; son and daughter-in-law Eddie and Kristen Gafford of Summerville, NC. She is also survived by her grandchildren Bill Gafford, Beth Ann Gafford-Hawley, Jennifer Gafford-Daughtery, David Gafford, Jamie Gladen, Zack Gladen, Kristopher Gafford, Caroline Gafford, and Cadee Gafford; and 5 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents Herbert Howdeshell and Maxine Howdeshell-Miller; step-father Phillip Miller; husbands Bill Gafford in 1972, Robert Hicks in 1990, and Tom Crosson in 2001; and sister Mitzie Miller Caputo in 1999.

The family would like to thank the staff at Pecan Tree Health & Rehab for the dedicated care Dee received.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to their Local Alzheimer's Association or the Sherman Rehabilitation Center.