Sally Ann Wills Crofford

Sally Wills Crofford

Mesa, Arizona

Sally Ann Wills Crofford – beloved wife, mother, and friend, was the 3rd child of 4 born in Decatur, Ill to Leo and Sarah Bachman on September 11, 1934. She passed on December 1st, 2024 at the age of 90. Sally was married to Kenneth Wills on July 14, 1957, and Ernest Crofford on June 3rd, 2002. Afterward, she was a companion to Ed Nickos for many years until his death in 2022.

Sally began her long career in hospital nursing and administration by attending the St. Frances Hospital School of Nursing in Peoria, Illinois graduating in September, 1955. From there, she worked at the University of Illinois Research and Educational Hospital in high-risk pediatrics. After moving to Arizona in 1967, she worked at Mesa Lutheran Hospital (MLH) in pediatrics for 1 year, then transferring to obstetrics. Her years at MLH would be the basis for many close friendships throughout the rest of her life. She eventually became head of patient care, and was the Director for Maternal Child Services at MLH and Banner Baywood Medical Center, until her retirement in 2000.

A love of cooking and sewing was always in the background throughout Sally’s life. She studied candy making at the Antoinette Pope School in Chicago, which led to learning chocolate dipping using the popular Fanny Farmer method. From that point and up to just a year ago, she dipped chocolates for family and friends during the holidays, and frequently held open houses to show her methods and share her confections. Sally also grew quite the reputation as an excellent baker and decorator of beautiful cakes for birthdays, weddings, and other special occasions for family and friends.

Sally’s love of sewing is reflected in teaching her daughters how to sew, making clothes, (not to mention many choir dresses), and eventually discovering quilting, which she wholly embraced by making many cherished quilts for family and friends. She also discovered machine-sewn embroidery, used for many creative projects.

Another avenue of giving her time and talent was in her love of gardening roses. She was a member of the Mesa-East Valley Rose Society, attending monthly meetings and making flower arrangements. She frequently tended to roses at the Veterans rose garden at Mesa Community College, and loved to grow roses at home.

Sally is survived by her immediate loving family, daughter Janet Wills Keller and husband Gerald Keller; daughter Julia Wills Mook and husband Carey Mook; and son Thomas Wills and (predeceased) wife Diana Wills; four grandchildren: Laura Keller Hazy and grandson-in-law Daniel Hazy, Andrew Keller, Ryan Mook, Emily Wills; and step great-grandson Hunter Hazy; as well as many nieces and nephews.

Sally is survived by many members of the Crofford family: step-daughters (and good friends) Sandra Heward (predeceased) husband Kent; Peggy Downey and husband Ed; as well as many loving step-grandchildren and step-great grandchildren within the Crofford family. She is also survived by loving members of the Nickos family: Pamela Regan, Michael Anderson (predeceased), Sandra Sather, Jeffery Nickos, Michon Couts and their loving families.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Green Acres Memorial Park, Scottsdale, Arizona, on Saturday, January 4th, 2025.

En lieu of flowers, donations to Child Crisis Center, 1045 E University Dr, Mesa, AZ 85203

childcrisisaz.org