Nancy Crandall

Nancy K. Crandall, beloved mother, sister and friend, passed away at precisely 11 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, falling just short of her goal of seeing another Christmas. She had faced her diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer and changing reality with grace, humor and dignity. She was kind and good and patient. Anyone who attended that many girls' basketball games with a smile (and no idea of what was going on) must be.

Born in Jackson on Oct. 30, 1947 to Donna (Churchill) and Harold Hendges, the family soon returned to Traverse City. In 1979 she married Timothy J. Crandall, gaining an energetic stepson, Timmy. Her daughter, Megan, was born the following year.

Over a 30-year career she taught every elementary grade except kindergarten at TCAPS schools, Norris and Blair. She had particular fun partnering with a former student to teach sixth grade.

Nancy loved the water and finding quiet patches of beach to enjoy while reading, or, in the last decade, throwing a ball for hours for Dominic, Megan's indefatigable Golden Retriever who often refused to leave the lake. Recently she began "seeding" the beaches with the beautiful stones she'd collected over the years, hoping visitors would find one of the dozens of Petoskeys or Leland blues she'd so enjoyed.

She adored her team at Interventional Radiology and had her visits down to a quick routine - which she was keen to share with any new doctor. With her oncologist, Dr. Kohler, she delighted in trying to lighten his mood in the midst of what she assumed were long days of comforting distressed patients.

She is survived by her daughter, Megan Crandall; siblings, Judith (Dr. Darwin) Weersing, Roxana Ostlund and Jerry Hendges; sister-in-law, Linda Crandall; former husband, Tim Crandall; and stepson, Timothy R. Crandall.

Cremation has taken place. A small luncheon is scheduled.