Obituary

Margaret passed away peacefully on November 27, 2024, at the age of 91. She was born September 3, 1933, in Hartford, CT to Asa and Edna Crawford and spent her childhood winters ice skating in Elizabeth Park and her summers swimming at Twin Lakes. Margaret earned her nursing degree at Ohio Wesleyan where she was a Kappa Kappa Gamma. After graduation, Margaret ventured West to serve as the nurse at the YMCA of the Rockies.

There she met Donald Hevel. After a summer of horse rides through the mountains, they married, moving back to Colorado and raising a family. Her career spanned working with migrant families, nursing instructor, school counseling and author.

Margaret had a gift for connecting with people. She couldn’t walk into a store, a park, an airport without striking up a conversation with a stranger, who not infrequently became a friend. She approached life as an adventure and loved learning new things, reading and traveling with friends and her daughters. As a mother and grandmother, Margaret was always there with unfailing support and a sympathetic ear. In her final years, she enjoyed her community at The Willows, going on field trips, teaching Shibashi and spending time with her friends.

Margaret is survived by her daughters Christine Hamer (Tom), Karen Hevel-Mingo (Richard), Joanne Holden (Terry) and Katherine Greger (Art); her grandchildren Zach (Kym) and Nate Hamer (Amanda), Kathryn Holden (Brandon), Ben (Lydia) and Sam Mingo, Sarah and Erik Greger, great grandson Mason Mingo, sister Elizabeth Rogge, brother Robert Crawford, sisters-in-law Joanne and Elizabeth Crawford, as well as many nieces and nephews. Special thanks to her friends Marcia Fort and Lindsey du Toit.

One of the greatest joys in Margaret’s life was her time working with the Whitewater Therapeutic Riding Association in Salmon Idaho. The program focuses on therapeutic value that people of all ages enjoy while interacting with horses. In keeping with Margaret’s love for this program, we are asking for donations to be made in her name in lieu of flowers or cards. Click on the Charities and Donation tab on the main menu to make a donation. And, on her behalf, we thank you for your kindness.