Obituary Mary Elizabeth Lafferty
After 96 joyous years on this earth, Mary Elizabeth (Crim) Lafferty, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Nov. 14 surrounded by loved ones.
Mary was born on October 3, 1925, the second child of George and Gladys (Guthery) Crim. The family lived on a farm near the tiny village of Larue, Ohio in Marion County. Her brother, Paul W. Crim who passed away in 1981, was 10 years her senior. She learned from a young age how to take care of, and entertain, herself. For a girl born in the 1920s in a small farming community, Mary defied odds and exceeded all expectations!
She was an independent woman long before the age of feminism. Mary graduated from Marseilles High School in 1943. At a time when women had limited opportunities, she went on to college, graduating from Bowling Green State University in 1947. She became a teacher, working briefly in Toledo before settling in Troy, Ohio in 1949 to teach business at the local high school.
Arriving in Troy on her own to begin her teaching career, she took a room in a boarding house. It was there she met a young man rising through the ranks at the Hobart Corporation. John Henry Lafferty and Mary Elizabeth Crim were married in 1951.
In 1957, they welcomed their first child, David Crim Lafferty and two years later their precious daughter, Ann Marie Lafferty. Being a mother to David and Ann and a corporate wife to John became Mary’s full-time job. A key part of that job was teaching her children the importance of community. The Lafferty family, led by Mary, were involved and engaged in the civic life of Troy and gave back to their hometown in a variety of ways. To this day, the Lafferty family continues to support events and organizations that make Troy a beautiful place to live.
As a mom, Mary continued to work for Troy Schools as a librarian at Cookson School and at the materials center. She volunteered for several organizations including Brukner Nature Center, the Stouder Memorial Hospital, Troy-Hayner Cultural Center, and the Troy Beautification Committee.
When her husband died in 1984, Mary remained active in the community and the preservation of Troy’s future. Through the Troy Foundation, she established funds on behalf of her family to support the Troy-Hayner Cultural Arts Center, Brukner Nature Center and Hospice of Miami County.
With her children grown, she also took time to develop her own hobbies and interests including gardening (especially her flower garden), bridge club, antiques, bird watching, her pet cats, enjoying good wine and an occasional bourbon, and traveling.
At the age of 80, Mary donned her best “Crocodile Dundee” hat and made her way to Australia. While she loved adventures abroad, she was also quite content at home, taking care of her beloved and beautiful yard and being a good friend and neighbor to many.
When she turned 90, Mary suffered a stroke and moved to Cincinnati to be closer to her children. She loved living in the same city as David and Ann and embraced her new home, at the New England Club. The effects of the stroke would not hold her back. She played bingo, fed ducks, watched old and current movies, enjoyed episodes of “The Golden Girls” and “The Carol Burnett Show,” and never missed a happy hour. She especially loved visits with family and making her care givers laugh with her one-liners and witty comebacks.
Mary always kept a smile on her face and a bottle of white wine close by. She laughed easily and often. She loved posing for selfies with her children, sometimes wearing a feathered mask, a silly hat or raising a glass in a toast. To the very end, she was spunky, opinionated and not afraid to ask for whatever she wanted. When a liquid diet was required, she’d shout, “I want steak,” just to remind everyone that she was still in charge!
Mary loved fiercely and was loved by many. She will be missed and remembered always. Her giving spirit and love of home will live on through her children and the lessons she taught them from a very early age.
In addition to her loving children, David and Ann, Mary is survived by several nieces and nephews, including Guthery Crim and Douglas Crim of Columbus, OH; Judy Houck of Dayton, OH and John Houck of St. Joseph, MI; Mike Mills of Dayton, OH, Millie Mills Stanley of Rogersville, TN, and Marcia Mills Plitt of Carmel, IN.
Burial to be held privately at Riverside Cemetery in Troy, OH.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Brukner Nature Center, 5995 Horseshoe Bend Rd., Troy, OH 45373 or Troy Beautification Committee, c/o The City of Troy, 100 S. Market Street, Troy, OH 45373. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.bairdfuneralhome.com.