Jan Andrea (Lindell) Crawford

Crawford, Jan Andrea (Lindell) 58, passed away peacefully at home in Apex, NC, Sept. 4, after a determined battle with recurrent cancer. A talented artist and decorator, she also was an ardent supporter of animal welfare and devoted much of her time to efforts in that area. Jan was born at George Air Force Base, Victorville, Calif., Jan 18, 1952, the same day her father, an Air Force Pilot, received orders to report for combat duty in the Korean War. Never one to take things slowly, Jan mastered her first challenge early--learning to walk--and made it, unassisted, from the grasp of her mother to the arms of her dad upon his return from Korea 10 months later. She grew up with her family in Minneapolis and, schooling completed, embarked on a career in business administration that led her to California for a time, then a return to Minneapolis where she met husband Jay Crawford, production manager at a computer manufacturer. This led to a move to Apex in 1995 when Jay was offered a post at IBM regional headquarters in Raleigh. Jan is survived by husband Jay and father Sherman Lindell, of Mesa, AZ, plus brothers Peter (Branna), Scott (Claudia), and nieces Karyn, Rachel and Sandra all of the Minneapolis area. Her mother, Lorraine, preceded her in death June 25, 2007. Childless, Jan retired from Coopers and Lybrand Accountants in Raleigh in 1997 to pursue other interests, high among them working with feral cats, capturing and seeking new homes or neutering or spaying and releasing if they couldn't be domesticated. Jan smilingly referred to cats she chose to keep or give special attention to over the years as "my kids" and asked that they be named in any obituary written for her. Included, as per her wishes, are Libby, Georgia, Dooley, Paddy, Bernard, Janie, Pearl, Marsha, Jelly, Louise and Mark. Jan asked that any persons wishing to make a memoriam in her name send it either to the North Carolina or National Humane Society. Private memorial services are being arranged by the family with burial at Elmhurst Cemetery, St. Paul.

Published on September 12, 2010