Doris Murphree Crumbley

Doris Murphree Crumbley, 95, died at St. Catherine’s Village, Madison, Mississippi on November 8, 2017. Services are at 2:00 p.m., with visitation beginning at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, November 12, 2017, at First United Methodist Church of Laurel with burial at Hickory Grove Cemetery. Mrs. Crumbley was a native of Calhoun City, Mississippi and was one of four daughters of Stanley and June Murphree. Her Father, Stanley Murphree, ran the local newspaper, The Monitor-Herald in Calhoun City. She served as valedictorian of her high school class. She graduated cum laude from Millsaps College with a B.A. degree in history and served as an instructor’s assistant in both the history and English departments. While at Millsaps, she was an active member of Chi Omega, serving as pledge trainer. In the fall of 1944, the Madison/Ridgeland, Mississippi school system hired her as a history instructor for the junior and senior high classes. She later taught in the public schools in Drew and Corinth, Mississippi. In 1949, she was hired by the Laurel public schools to teach history. Soon after she arrived in Laurel, she met her future husband L. S. Crumbley. She was active in numerous organizations in Laurel, including: the Laurel Junior Auxiliary, the Northwood Garden Club, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Colonial Dames of the 17th Century, the Colonial Order of the Crown, the Society of the Descendants of the Mayflower and Chi Omega Alumnae. In 1991, the Laurel Exchange Club presented her with the annual “Love of Country” award. In 2015, the Supreme Governing Council of Chi Omega Fraternity presented a plaque to Doris Crumbley, congratulating her on 75 years of membership. In addition, she gave freely of her time to her church, First United Methodist, where she was an active member of the Altar Guild and the church circles. An avid reader, Doris was known for her fondness of mysteries and historical fiction, and she would often read into the wee hours of the morning to finish a novel. She was a master at the fine art of hand stitchery and at the creation of chocolate delicacies. Her active role as a wonderful and loving grandmother to her four grandchildren was one of her greatest joys. From the sidelines, she adored cheering her grandchildren on to sports victories, being in the audience for performances in which they were involved and she delighted in taking her granddaughters shopping. Her devotion to all of the beloved family canines revealed her kind, giving heart. She is survived by her son, Louis S. Crumbley, Jr. and wife Amelia of Laurel; her daughter June Stone and husband Harper of Jackson, Mississippi; and her grandchildren Turner Crumbley and wife Frances of New Orleans; Sarah Langston and husband Cory of Madison, Mississippi; Julia Morgan Sandifer and husband Greg of Jackson, Mississippi; and Harper Stone, Jr. of Jackson, Mississippi. She is also survived by her four great grandchildren; Lillie Langston, Ford Langston, Caroline Langston, and Mary Amelia Crumbley, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband L.S. Crumbley, and her sisters, Carolyn Backstrom of Gautier, Mississippi, Bobbye Ayres of Leland, Mississippi, and June Murphree of Calhoun City, Mississippi. The family wishes to express their sincere thanks for the excellent care she received by the loving and devoted staff at St. Catherine’s – Siena and Gentiva Hospice. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church in Laurel, Mississippi. To sign the online guest book, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com.

Doris Murphree Crumbley

June 17, 1922 - November 8, 2017