St. George / Panguitch, Utah - Fern Houston Crawford, age 93, passed away peacefully on October 15, 2010, with her beloved husband of 60 years, Jasper Louis Crawford, by her side. She was born June 14, 1917, to Roene Syrett and James Frank Houston in Panguitch, Utah. The third of twelve children, she was big sister and mentor to the younger children, and sharing unbelievable devotion and care for them and especially for her parents. Ferns love for her family extended to all the people of Panguitch, a community she was most proud to call home and one she loved her entire life. People of Ferns generation will remember her as one of the towns greatest promoters and the most helpful and charming fixture in her fathers store, The Southern Utah Equitable, or SUE as it was called. Fern is survived by her husband, Jasper Louis Crawford (J.L.); her brother, Samuel Crawford Houston (Mary Jo); her sisters: Cecile H. Orton (Frank), Roene H. Nelson (Fenn), Zelda H. Gerstner (Gene), Christine H. Owens (Ted), and two sisters-in-law: Tennys Slack Houston (Jay) and Nadine Whitaker Houston (Ray). Preceding her in death were her brothers: Robert Hoover Houston, Jay Houston, Ray Houston and Dee Fred and wife Dorothy Houston. Two sisters preceded her as well, Irene H. and husband Clem McEwan and Opal H. and husband Reid Miller. Formal schooling began for Fern with two special years of kindergarten with Miss Paul and Miss Grow at the Presbyterian Church, before continuing with elementary school at the old elementary building. She attended eighth grade in Provo then returned to Panguitch for high school that was held in the LDS Church and Social Hall since the highschool burned and was being rebuilt. Following graduation, she went to Provo to attend Brigham Young University Fern loved telling stories of her ballet lessons with Mae Hudson and tap dancing with Miss Nelson, and no one who knew Fern well will forget her skill at ice skating. She truly loved music, history and the arts and tended as many of the local events as possible in both Panguitch and St. George. All in all, Fern worked at the SUE with her father and brother, Dee, for 61 years, not one of which she regretted. She had special relationships with her customer friends and an innate talent for selecting and stocking goods the townspeople wanted. Her years at the SUE were anything but work for her, since contacts with townsfolk were the mainstay of her life. It was during this time that she met J.L., a handsome ranger from Bryce Canyon National Park, and they were married on August 4, 1950. The couple were sealed March 12, 1960 in the St. George LDS Temple. Fern and J.L. worked side by side for many years as volunteers at the Dixie College Library and as Stake Historians. In 1997, Fern researched material for and published Red Brick Homes and Other Buildings of Panguitch, Utah. , a brief history of the towns old homes and structures she had always admired. She was an active and devoted member of the LDS Church. She taught classes and was in the Relief Society Presidency in Springdale. Fern was a very spiritual lady and had a strong testimony which she shared easily. Of her many interests, art was one of Ferns favorites. She began painting while living in Panguitch and took several classes at Dixie State College after moving to St. George, and completed more than 300 paintings which she immediately gave away to friends and family. Not long after being married, Fern and J.L. built the Horizon Lodge in Panguitch. They lived there and ran the motel for 20 years. When they sold the Horizon, they moved to Zion National Park where J.L. resumed employment as a Park Ranger. Fern and J.L. spent several years in the Park, and then in 1980 they built and moved into their present home in St. George. While Fern was outgoing, friendly, and generous with everyone, she was private and self-effacing. She did not care for ceremony, particularly where she was concerned, and insisted on a simple graveside memorial as a way for those of us who loved her to pay our last respects. The following will be in compliance with her wishes. A visitation will be held Friday, October 22, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 West St. George Blvd., St. George, Utah. A second visitation will be held Saturday, October 23, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Panguitch LDS 2nd Ward Chapel, 180 North 400 East, Panguitch, Utah. A memorial service will be held at the Chapel prior to interment at the Panguitch City Cemetery at 12:30 p.m. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221. A special thank you is extended to the staffs of Rocky Mountain Care and Hospice, and Red Cliffs Regional Rehabilitation and Convalescent Center. The lives of Fern and J.L. and their families were comforted by the loving and competent care these organizations provided around the clock.