Mary Hope McCrum

Mary Hope McCrum peacefully entered the arms of Jesus Friday June 13, 2025 at the age of 83. Mary Hope was born to Edgar Lee Butler and Minnie Melba (Newport) on July 4, 1941 in Chickasha OK. She moved to Texas when she was a child graduating from Lubbock High School in 1959. She married Dale Calvin McCrum May 29, 1959 immediately following graduation. They celebrated 65 years of marriage before his passing in August 2024.

Mary Hope had a calling to enter nursing early in life. She was active in the Vocational Industrial Club At Lubbock High winning many awards in Nurse Aide skills. She was elected secretary of the state organization in 1958 and named State VIC Girl of the Year as well. She trained as a nurse aide at St Mary of the Plains while in high school. Early marriage and the birth of their children delayed her dreams of nursing school. After the girls started school Mary Hope went back to school becoming a licensed vocational nurse in 1970. She worked for a number of years for Dr. Joe Arrington in his cardiology practice. It was a job she truly loved. She returned to school to become a registered nurse graduating from Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in 1983, earning her Board Certification RNC in 1999 as a Medical-Surgical Nurse. She spent many years as the Head Nurse on the orthopedic floor at St Mary of the Plains. In 2007 she was honored by Covenant Health System as the Nurse of the Year for her unit. She was well liked and well respected by her nursing staff as she could often be seen assisting them at the bedside. She was a nurse first and a manager second.

Above all else, mother loved her children and grandchildren making sure they always had what they needed (and even what they didn’t)! She loved playing Skip-Bo with her sisters and granddaughters and could play for hours. Mother was a terrible cook but she had a knack for baking. Every Sunday dinner required dessert; red velvet cake or dad’s favorite pecan pie. There were always chocolate chip or snickerdoodle cookies for the grandkids. Mother was an active and faithful member of St. Matthew United Methodist for over 50 years, raising her daughters and granddaughters there.

Her hobbies included collecting Madam Alexander dolls, adopting every stray animal the grandkids brought in, sewing and her monthly Bunko group. Saturday mornings were garage sale excursions where she was sure to find a treasure she thought one of the kids might need.

Mary Hope is survived by 3 daughters; Tanya Ward (Jeff) of Lubbock, Tammy Campbell (Doug) of Tomball Tx, and Mickie Laws (Danny) of Lubbock; grandchildren Trevor Ward (Megan) of Lubbock, Trey Ward of Huntsville AL, Travis Ward (Brooke) of Lubbock, Robbie Campbell of Tomball Tx, Caitie Campbell of Tomball Tx, Ashley McCrum of Fredericksburg Va, McKendra Laws of Bryan Tx, and Teagan Laws of Lubbock. She leaves behind 5 great-grandchildren; Ava, Austin and Adelyn Campbell of Tomball Tx, Connor and William Ward of Lubbock. She is survived by a brother Roy (Sonny) and Betty Butler of Russellville AR and a sister Trivella Smith of Irving TX and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Dale; her parents Edgar Lee Butler and Minnie Melba (Newport), sisters; Wanda Legg, Virginia Teaff, Nadine Broach, Patsy King and infant sister Pernie Butler and brothers Raymond Lee and Wayne Butler.

Mother was blessed to have many caring and compassionate nurses in her final months. The family would like to thank Pam and Meagan at Brookdale Monterey in her transition to memory care. In her final days Casey & Miranda at Lakeridge Nursing helped mother remain comfortable and pain free. A huge hug and love to Olivia and Rebecca at DHC Home Health and Hospice for the personal care, love and compassion they expressed in their care for her over many months. They are true angels on earth.

A memorial service will be held on Monday June 23, 2025 at 1:00 pm at St. Matthew United Methodist Church located at 5320 50th St in Lubbock. Interment will follow at Peaceful Gardens Memorial Park 15602 Texas Loop 493 Lubbock Tx.

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