Charmion Nancy Roe Crowell, age 94 of Middletown, NJ died on January 7, 2023.
She was born on a farm on Beaver Run Road, Lafayette Loop, Sussex County, NJ, daughter of D. Writer and Marie LePine Roe on May 21, 1928. Inspired by her mother, who was a schoolteacher for 35 years and after graduating from Newton High School, Nancy attended Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA., graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Sciences, History and Education in 1949 and also an accredited teacher. She later received a full scholarship to Maxwell Graduate School of Public Administration at Syracuse University and received her Master’s in Public Administration in 1951.
On July 4, 1951, she married Whitney Crowell, son of Judge & Mrs. John V. Crowell of Little Silver. Whitney practiced law in Red Bank for 54 years until his death on Feb. 1, 2006. They were married nearly 55 years.
From 1951-52 Nancy worked in Trenton for the Dept. of Institutions & Agencies, then as a consultant to the Monmouth County Courts, Juvenile Division from 1952-53 until their first child was born.
An active participant in her community, she was President of the 1-5-8 Women’s Republican Club, a Vice-Chairman of Middletown Republican Party, and served 30 years as a Republican Committee woman in District 1.
From 1973-76 Nancy was the first Woman Superintendent of Elections and Commissioner of Legislation in Monmouth County – a Governor’s appointment and later served from 1976-78 as a member of the Monmouth County Board of Elections.
After considering a return to teaching, she was asked to join Food Circus Supermarket and served as Director of Human Resources and Special Assistant to the President, Joseph Azzolino for 20 years.
One definite highlight of her life was her personal visit and lunch with Capt. Milligan, Commanding Officer of the Battleship New Jersey, while it was homeported in Long Beach, CA in 1984. She actively worked for the Battleships’ return to New Jersey.
After Nancy’s retirement in August 1995, she became more active in the Municipal Alliance to Prevent Drug & Alcohol Abuse, did volunteer work at the Middletown Library, and was appointed by the Superior Court from 2001 – 2003 to serve on The Juvenile Conference Committee.
She and Whitney so enjoyed their trips to Alaska, Sicily, California and the Grand Canyon, Montana, but most of all their visits with their children and grandchildren.
Nancy enjoyed water aerobics, was an avid letter writer, reader, knitted slippers, afghans, lap robes for family and charities and was famous for her Raspberry Jam!
The last few years Nancy lived happily at Monroe Village / Village Point in Monroe Township, NJ where she made many friends and was loved by all.
Nancy was an amazing Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Mother-In-Law and friend. She will be missed by many, and those who knew her, were blessed.
She was pre-deceased by her parents, her loving husband Whitney, her brother Tom in Montana and her son Thomas of New Hampshire. She is survived by her two daughters, Berrien and son-in-law Richard Gordon in NJ, Suzanne in Florida and granddaughter Lauren and her husband Jon Todd in PA and son, Stewart and daughter-in-law Lily and grandsons, Braden and Colbey, all in Florida. Also, a beloved sister-in-law Betty and family in Big Timber, MT.
Visitation Saturday February 11th 11:00 am – 1:00 pm at the Holmdel Funeral Home, 26 South Holmdel Road, Holmdel. Entombment to follow in Holmdel Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; www.stjude.org.