Nelda Sue Crawford died on Oct. 6, 2024, in Lampasas.
Graveside services will be held at May Cemetery in May, Texas, on Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. Sneed Funeral Chapel in Lampasas has charge of arrangements.
Nelda was born on Feb. 22, 1943, in San Antonio to Nell Gertrude Harris-Wilson and William J. Bryan Stone.
She graduated from high school in May in 1961. Nelda then attended the University of North Texas in Denton, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in 1966 and master’s degree in 1970. She was a member of Kappa Delta Pi honor society.
Nelda also completed numerous graduate courses at Texas A&M University in pursuit of a Ph.D. in education.
She married Bill Fortune in 1966, and together they had two children, Chris and Jill. The family resided in Bryan.
Nelda had over 40 years of service in public school education, serving as a teacher in several states. She was a teacher then a curriculum specialist with Bryan ISD for 18 years. Nelda later served as assistant superintendent of Early ISD, before retiring as assistant superintendent of Lampasas ISD in 2010.
Nelda married CM Crawford in 2009. The couple resided in Lampasas. Nelda and CM enjoyed domestic and international travel during their retirement. They also took several cruises and cross-country trips by train.
Nelda was a collector of antique furniture and collectibles. She loved cooking and baking for her family, hiking on her land, and spending time with her grandchildren.
Nelda was preceded in death by her sister, Cynthia Ann Reynolds; paternal half-brother, William Hollis Stone; stepfather, Ray Lancaster; stepbrothers Gary Don Lancaster and Ronnie Lancaster; and her first husband.
Survivors include her husband, CM of Lampasas; her children, Chris Fortune of Spring and Jill Shaw of Brownwood; grandchildren Lyric Shaw, Karter Shaw, Lainee Butts, Christopher Fortune Jr. and Madeline Fortune; nephew Colby Reynolds of Stephenville, niece Leigh Ann Reynolds, along with several other nieces and nephews from Texas.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
