Dr. Frances Crowley

Dr. Frances G. Crowley, 88, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010, at the Lutheran Home.

She was born March 22, 1921, in Merano, Italy, to Oscar and Matilda Geyer. She and Dr. Cornelius J. Crowley were married Sept. 28, 1948. He preceded her in death Oct. 26, 1987.

Dr. Crowley was a language professor at Southeast Missouri State University. She wrote four books and had countless articles published. Most of her writing dealt with South America, its culture, history and people. She served on the board of advisers and wrote a chapter of The De Soto Chronicles, a book covering the expedition of Hernando De Soto. In 1976, she received the Distinguished Teacher award from Southeast University.

She was listed among Who's Who in the Midwest as well as Who's Who in American Women. She was a member of Phi Sigma Iota, foreign language society and Phi Delta Phi, the international legal fraternity. She is a past president of Cape Girardeau Garden Club.

Survivors include a son, Robert Crowley and wife Frances I. of Bloomington, Ind.; a grandson, Connor Crowley of Bloomington; and a stepdaughter, Ronnie Ipavitch of Sanford, Conn.

She was preceded in death by her husband and parents.

Visitation will be from noon to service time Friday at Crain Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, with Pastor Paul Kabo Jr. officiating. Interment will be in Lorimier Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Frances and Cornelius Crowley Scholarship Fund at Southeast Missouri State University, and will be accepted at the funeral home.

To leave online condolences, visit www.crainsonline.com.