Emily Crabtree Donelly

Emily Crabtree Donnelly Farkas passed away on June 20, 2022, at Sunrise Senior Living in Raleigh. She was born to Catherine Morgan Crabtree and Herman H. Crabtree in Durham N.C. on January 22, 1937. Emily graduated from Durham High School in 1955. She attended East Carolina University and graduated in November of 1958 in three years and a quarter earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Primary Education.

Emily married Robert “Bob” Donnelly in 1958. At his death in 2006 they had been married 47 ½ years. Emily married again in 2010 to Joseph “Joe” Farkas. At his death in 2015, they had been married 5 years. Emily taught 1st grade at Bethesda in Durham from 1959 to 1963. In addition to being a stay-at-home mom, she worked for American Greeting Cards in Raleigh for 15 years.

Emily and Bob moved with their son Paul to Raleigh in December of 1967. Their daughter Anita was born in August of 1968. Emily was active in the Brentwood community. She volunteered with Exchange Clubs, Brentwood School, Child Safety Watch, Brownie Leader, and Safe/Child Bookshelf Fund Raiser. She was also an active member of Millbrook United Methodist Church from 1968 to 2019 where she sang in the choir for a number of years.

Besides her parents and husbands, Emily was preceded in death by her daughter Anita Donnelly Gurganus, daughter-in-law Mary Norton Donnelly, nephew Mark Crabtree, sister-in-law Naoma Crabtree, and her Very Special Uncle Norman Crabtree.

Emily is survived by her Son Paul Donnelly and Grandson Casey Donnelly (Swansboro), Brother Herman H. Crabtree Jr. (Thomasville), along with Nieces and Nephews.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be made to the music department at Millbrook United Methodist Church. (Millbrook United Methodist Church, Music Department,1712 East Millbrook Road, Raleigh, N.C. 27609)

A graveside service will be held at 2:00PM on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 in the Mausoleum at Raleigh Memorial Park 7501 Glenwood Avenue. (Hwy 70), Raleigh, NC.

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