Josephine Margaret Smith

Margaret (Josephine) Cram Smith went home to God on December 25, 2019. She died, as she lived, with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren at her side. She was 81 years old.

Margaret was born Josephine Margaret Lowery, in Biloxi, MS on July 22, 1938 to Josephine (Ryan) Lowery and George Wallace Lowery. She is survived by a large loving family of 10 brothers and sisters (Mary Alice Stephens, Patsy LeCroy, Martha Vaughan, Jean Sharkey, Shannon Taylor, George Lowery, Harry Lowery, Fred Lowery, Bill Lowery, John Lowery) and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by 5 of her 6 children: Robert Cram, Jr of West Barnstable, MA; Steven Cram of Conway, NH; Donna Piper of Colorado Springs, CO; Lisa Bresciano of Hollis, NH; and Christena (Tena) Cram of Hudson, NH. She also leaves behind 12 grandchildren: Toni Smith of Phoenix, AZ; Olivia and Robert (Bobby) Cram III, of W. Barnstable, MA; Marcus Cram of Chelmsford, MA; Charlotte and Benjamin Cram of Conway, NH; Gretchen and Nethaniel Piper of Colorado Springs CO; Phoebe Sweet of Superior, CO; Alex Piper of Long Beach, CA; Peytin Bresciano of Hollis, NH; and Gabriel Cram of Hudson, NH, as well as 4 great-grandchildren (Ava Sweet, Ryker Cram, Amilyah Cram and William Cram).

She was met by her Daughter, Claire Cram, Grandson Jeromy and Granddaughter, Gillian Piper, who predeceased her.

She was a woman of many names; she was known as: Mom, Mum, Margaret, Maggie, Nana, Nan, Nan-the-Great (as her great-grandchildren knew her) and even lovingly called, Nanny-Granny-Pantyhose. She loved nothing more than being surrounded by family.

She met her husband, and father of her children, Robert F. Cram Sr. (from Lewiston, ME, died April 30, 2010) in Biloxi, MS in 1957, while he was in the Air Force, stationed at Keesler Air Force Base. They married on February 15, 1958. They soon moved to Maine, and Robert joined the Maine State Police force after leaving the Air Force. They lived in Lewiston, Ft. Fairfield then finally settling in Fryeburg, to raise their family.

Upon leaving Fryeburg, she and the children moved to Mississippi to be closer to her family. However, things didn’t turn out as she planned, a tragic car accident took the life of her oldest daughter, Claire, at the tender age of 19. Then she and Robert divorced shortly, thereafter. Margaret spent the next few years trying to put the pieces of her life back together as best she could. In this period, she struggled to find her place in the world, moving her family between Maine and Mississippi.

Later in life, after a brief 2nd marriage to a Mr. Richard Smith, she moved between her children, giving them a helping hand in raising her grandchildren. In doing so, she was able to create strong bonds with her children and delight in spoiling her grandchildren. She loved her grandchildren endlessly. Not one child has escaped the giggle inducing ‘creep-mouse’. Nan will always be remembered as the ultimate thief of her grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s ‘sugar’.

Her silly sense of humor, quick sarcastic wit and deep love of family will be carried on for generations. She will be missed deeply by those who had the honor to know and love her.

Services for Margaret will be held in Conway, New Hampshire at Journey Church, 15 Hutchins Drive, Conway, NH 03818 on Saturday, January 18th at 10:00am.

An additional service will be held in Biloxi, Mississippi to be announced at a later date.