Nova Lee Crockran

Nova Lee Bell-Crockran, age 99 of Springfield, Ohio, entered eternal life on October 11, 2019.  She was born December 13, 1919 in Cypress, Alabama to Henry Bell and Eliza Ann Reese-Bell.  Nova Lee left home at the age of 16.  She moved to Springfield, Ohio at the age of 18 as a live-in child care-giver and housekeeper.  Nova Lee met the love of her life and married Henry Crockran in 1945.  They were married for 44 years.   

Nova Lee was employed at Wright Patterson Air Force for 11 months. She also   worked part-time as a domestic worker.  After her husband became ill, Nova Lee dedicated her life caring for her husband until his death. 

Nova Lee was a faithful member of Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church for many years.  She served on the Clark County Missionary Women’s Society and enjoyed working with the young girls in the church. 

Nova Lee traveled across the country with her great nieces and nephews of Springfield, Ohio and looked forward to going to the “Tooson Family Reunion” every year!  She would tell everyone how her sister’s children are taking good care of her and she don’t have to do anything.  Nova Lee loved making quilts (afghans) and spent many evenings watching her favorite baseball team “Cincinnati Reds” and TV show “Dr. Phil”.  Her favorite times was wrapping herself in her blanket and falling asleep.

Nova Lee was preceded in death by her parents Henry and Eliza Bell, husband: Henry Crockran; sisters; Henrietta Bell-Claycomb, Sue Willie Bell Tooson; brother,  Champ Bell; nephews; John W. Tooson, Solomon “Bill” Tooson and Marian Louis Tooson; great nephews, Robert Tooson, Ronald Tooson, Larry Claycomb and James Whitfield. 

She leaves to cherish in her precious memory, niece, Eliza Mae Moore Whitfield, (Detroit, MI); great nieces and nephews, Rosie (Gary) Tooson-Truss, Walter Tooson Sr., John (Lisa) Tooson, Shirley (Harry) Tooson-Roberts, Carlyn (Otis) Tooson-Williams (all of Springfield, OH); Betty (Johnny) Whitfield-Fort (Detroit, MI), Ellen Tooson-Dyson, Sarah (James) Tooson-Darden, Tom Tooson, Loretta (John) Tooson-White, Teresa (Lee) Tooson-Marzetti, Celinda (Ray) Tooson-Hunter, Vickie Tooson (all of Dayton, OH), Gladys Tooson (Scranton, PA); Debra (Wade) Tooson-Harris (Indianapolis, IN) and a host of many more great-great nieces, nephews and friends.

 Visitation is Thursday from 11 a.m. until the time of service at 12 noon in Mt. Pilgrim Baptist Church.  Burial will follow in Ferncliff Cemetery. 

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