Dorothy Lee Crawford

Dorothy Lee Guess Crawford was born on August 20th, 1931, in Briggs, OK, the daughter of Willie Guess and Addie Martin. She grew up with four brothers and five sisters, Richard, Raymond, Louie, James, Annie, May, Leona, Rose, and Susie and attended school in Briggs and high school at Bagley High School in Tahlequah. She then began working for Northeastern State University as manager in the Food Service Department. She then worked for Cherokee Nation Job Corp. After retiring from Job Corp, she volunteered for over 20 years at the Tahlequah Senior Citizens seven days a week delivering meals to those who were homebound and also held dances every Friday night at the center in addition to renting the building for family functions on weekends.

First and foremost, she was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She was the wife of Robert Crawford, the proud mother of two children, Robert and Roberta. She was the best grandma in the world of four grandchildren, Buddy Lee, April, Cara and Kelly. She was a talented lady who knew her way around a kitchen, making the best cinnamon bread, biscuits and gravy, chicken and dumplings and Christmas Cookies. She competed and won several trips by entering cooking contests. Her sewing was exceptional as well. She won ribbons after entering projects in a competitive category. Her daughter had the best dressed Barbie Dolls in town. She made all of her children’s Halloween costumes and every costume worn for various functions. She enjoyed traveling and enjoyed her visits to Ft. Worth to visit her grandchildren. Dorothy was dedicated, seldom missed work, loved people, and always looked after them, doing whatever was needed to make them happy. She never complained, was very independent, but could demonstrate the occasional stubborn streak. She had a servant’s heart, and loved taking people and making them feel loved and cared for. After her husband died in 1991, she remained in Tahlequah, and spent as much time spoiling her grandkids as she could. Dorothy enjoyed going with friends to various locations to gamble, and spending time at the casino with her daughter. She later met and enjoyed spending time with, especially dancing at various Senior Citizen facilities nearby with Johnnie Baker. These two enjoyed life to its fullest until her physical health began to fail her, and true to herself she did it all without complaint. A Baptist Christian by faith, Dorothy passed from this life on February 7th, 2023 in Tulsa, OK, surrounded by her family. She was 91 years old and will be sorely missed.

She is preceded in death by her grandparents, her mother and father, her husband Robert, her companion Johnnie Baker, her beloved son, Robert Crawford Jr., three brothers, Dick Guess, Raymond Guess, and James Guess, and three sisters, Annie Guess Wilson, May Guess Bearpaw, Susie Guess Hawkins, brother in law, Wallace Miller, and granddaughter, Kelly Crawford (1983).

Those left to celebrate her life and legacy include her daughter, Roberta Womack and husband Glenn of Ft. Worth, TX, her favorite daughter in law, Megan McCully (Donnie) and her grandchildren, Buddy Lee Clinton Jr and companion Rosalinda Villarreal of Tahlequah, OK, April Brown and husband Eric of Sand Springs, OK, and Cara Hummel and husband Jamison of Tulsa, OK. She lives on in her six great grandchildren, Evan Brown, Noah Brown, and Mason Brown all of Sand Springs, Sofia Clinton and Leia Clinton both of Ft. Worth, TX, and Reid Hummel of Tulsa, OK and her best friend, Betty Hall of Tahlequah, OK, as well as a host of friends and many nieces and nephews far too numerous to mention. The family would like to thank Hillcrest South for the excellent care and the compassion shown by the entire staff during her stay.

Funeral services for Dorothy Lee Guess-Crawford will be held on Monday, February 13th, 2023 at 1:00 pm at Reed-Culver Chapel with Reverend Dale Wilson officiating. She will be laid to rest at Tahlequah City Cemetery next to her husband, Robert Lee Crawford.

Pallbearers of Dorothy include Buddy Clinton Sr., Buddy Clinton Jr., Roberta Womack, Steve Smith, Cody Cox and Donnie McCully.

Her family will receive visitors on Sunday, February 12th, 2023 from 2:00 PM until 5:00 PM at Reed-Culver Funeral Home.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.reedculver.com for the Crawford family.