Caroline Elizabeth (Morton) Crane

Caroline Elizabeth Crane (nee Morton) of Crystal Lake passed away peacefully November 29, 2023.  She was born May 29, 1958 in East St. Louis, IL to Larry and Pat (Donahue) Morton.

Carrie is survived by her husband of 42 years, Leonard; daughters, Anna (Jordan Gary) Crane, and Julia (Maxwell) Lisy; grandchildren, Nora and Sadie Lisy; brother, Larry Morton; and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents; and brother, John Patrick Morton.

Carrie grew up in the close-knit community of North Dupo, IL surrounded by aunts, uncles and cousins to whom she was always held dear. She was immensely proud of her hometown, her family, and Irish heritage, and considered herself a small-town girl. Carrie graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she studied education and developed a commitment to treating children as individuals and building in them a life-long love of learning.  Carrie also went on to earn a Masters Degree in Reading at National College.

At U of I, Carrie met Leonard, who would ever-after be her partner and the love of her life. They married in 1981 and moved to Crystal Lake where they built a beautiful life filled with friends and family. With the addition of Anna and Julia she became Mom, and with Nora and Sadie she became Grandma, her two favorite roles.  Ever devoted to family and friends, her girls and their families were truly her life.

Carrie was an educator and school administrator for nearly 30 years, often tutoring children outside of the classroom to help them succeed. Her commitment to education was more than a career, it was a public service. She believed that learning to read was the key to connecting with fellow human beings, hearing and understanding different cultures and points of view, and becoming loving citizens of the world.  Hundreds of local parents recognize Mrs. Crane as “the teacher with all the books who changed their child’s life by teaching them to read.”

Carrie Crane was loved by all who knew her.

Memorial service, followed by visitation, will be held at 1:00pm on December 9th at Davenport Family Funeral Home, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave (Route 176) Crystal Lake.  Burial will be private at Windridge Memorial Park, Cary.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the following are greatly appreciated:

Reading is Fundamental

https://secure.rif.org/page/51836/donate/1

American Civil Liberties Union

https://action.aclu.org/give/make-gift-aclu-someones-memory?ms=waystogive&ms_aff=NAT&ms_chan=web&initms=waystogive&initms_aff=NAT&initms_chan=web

Please visit www.davenportfamily.com to send messages of condolence.