Mary Ethel Craft, full of wisdom
Mary Ethel Craft, 96, of Milford joined the Lord Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, passing peacefully at her home in Milford surrounded by family and loved ones.
To those who knew her, Ethel was the salt of the earth. A woman genuine and true to her core, with soft-spoken wisdom curated by a lifetime of experiences, she was a gem within her family and the community where she lived for almost a century.
Ethel was born Oct. 22, 1924, to the late George Elmer and Junie Caldwell Morgan of Redden. Growing up during the Great Depression, she learned the value of hard work, dedication, and fine detail; what would become guiding tenets throughout her adult life. Family, community, and church were the bedrock of Ethel’s life. She was well known for her skill in crocheting, fashioning beautiful quilts for many of her family and friends over the years. Her hobbies over the years included doll collecting, crossword puzzles, and bowling with a women’s league at the Milford Bowling Lanes.
Ethel was married to Thomas D. Craft Sr. for 70 years. They both dedicated their lives to their family and to their church. Ethel and her late husband were well known throughout the region for their prize vegetable garden, strawberries and lima beans, a lifelong hobby. They were both instrumental in the founding of Berean Community Church in Milford. Ethel was the church treasurer for a number of years. She loved and supported her church family throughout her life.
Ethel held a variety of positions throughout Delaware over the years. Some of the most memorable included owning and operating Warrington Furniture with her late husband, and working as a dental assistant for the late Dr. Edward L. Hendel and Dr. William D. Kimmel. Ethel retired at her last position with the Internal Revenue Service, where she served as an administrative assistant.
Ethel is survived by her loving sons and their families, Thomas Jr. (Rebecca), Ronald (Ann), Darryl, Randall (Debbie) and daughter-in-law Michele; her grandchildren, Brenda (Curtis) Ensley, Christine (Trent) Crouch, Brian Craft, Brandon (Michelle) Craft, Kolby Craft and Austin Craft; great-grandchildren, Morgan Vance, Dylan Crouch, Jessica (John) Hauer and Caleb Ensley, Ivy and Charlotte Craft; and nine great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one brother, Robert Morgan (Anna Lee); one sister, Ruth Boyce and brother-in-law, Thurman Banning. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Junie Caldwell; husband, Thomas D. Craft Sr.; son, Kevin T. Craft; two brothers, Ralph and James (Jimmy) Morgan; and two sisters, Leatha Banning and Joan Dearth.
A ceremony celebrating Ethel’s life will be held at Berean Community Church, 2709 Milford-Harrington Highway, Milford, Sunday, Feb. 28, at 4 p.m. Friends and family can visit with the family between 3 and 4 p.m. Link for online service for those that cannot attend in person: https://youtu.be/zpCSXgQFnd or www.bereancommunitychurch.com/live.
Interment will be held privately at the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Millsboro.
Family request that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Berean Community Church Missions, 2709 Milford Harrington Highway, Milford, DE 19963, or online at https://give.cornerstone.cc/bereancommunitychurch and select the Missions designation.
Arrangements in the care of Berry-Short Funeral Home, Milford. Online condolences may be left at www.shortfuneralservicesandcremations.com
