Lorraine Crocker was born December 12th, 1912 in Colorado Springs, Colorado to Ethel and Paul Essick. She passed away peacefully in her sleep June 6th, 2017 in Boca Raton, Florida. She was preceded in death by her husband, Merrill Crocker, her mother and father, Ethel and Paul Essick, her sister, Virginia Firlit and her brother, Eugene Essick. She is survived by her nieces: Genevieve Koziol (Bill) of Lake Kiowa, Texas; Tanya Firlit of Boca Raton, Florida; and Bonnie Enos (Howard) of Denver, Colorado.
Lorraine graduated from Colorado Springs High School (CSHS) in the Class of 1930. She then began her long career with the telephone company as an operator, then supervisor, instructor, customer relations supervisor, and traffic service manager, retiring after 40 years. In 1946 she married Merrill Crocker and while continuing her career with the phone company they owned and operated the Merri-Laine Restaurant in Old Colorado City for 18 years.
She was very active in the Woman’s Club of Colorado Springs for 25 years, serving as President and Treasurer and was made a Life Member in 2005. She was also a member of the Telephone Pioneers, and active in Silver Key.
Lorraine enjoyed traveling – by car throughout the United States and Canada, cruising to Alaska and the Panama Canal and flying to Hawaii and Scotland. She loved the outdoors – hiking in the mountains, bicycling, gardening and feeding the many birds in her yard. She played the piano beautifully, was an avid reader and enjoyed photography, winning several blue ribbons for her pictures. She was also a wonderful square dancer, actually going with a group to Cuba in the 1930’s to put on a dance demonstration. And over the years, with her love of cats, she always shared her home with two or three very lucky ones.
For her 101st birthday she flew to Boca Raton, to enjoy the sunshine, which was very appropriate as she brought sunshine into the lives of everyone she met. But time, as it does, began to take its toll. Although she always remained cheerful, had a twinkle in her eye and was a joy to be around, she was getting tired. So, at 1041/2 years of age God called her home. All of her family and friends feel so blessed to have known this beautiful, loving, kind and caring lady.
Many thanks to the staff of Stratford Court, Boca Raton; VITAS, Sharon Pomarico; her special care givers – Naphthaline Laurent, Sylianne Guillaume, Kemly Craan, Trudy Logan, Mimose Aladin; and to Chaplain Gregory Sherman.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Shrine of Remembrance Funeral Home, 1730 E. Fountain Blvd. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday, June 16th at 1:00 p.m. with the Service to follow at 2:00 p.m. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the SPCA of Colorado Springs.