Tomales rancher Erma E. Crayne, a tough cookie bound
by the demands of ranch life, who lost her husband and buried three
sons, but still managed to keep her sense of humor, died Tuesday, Oct.
25, in a Petaluma convalescent hospital of complications from dementia.
She was 82.
Known as "Grandma" in the community, Mrs.
Crayne told it like it was and delivered her opinions in a raspy voice
that on the telephone was often mistaken for a man’s.
Large-boned, with dark wavy hair and an olive complexion,
Mrs. Crayne had a way of commanding respect from others. When she raised
her voice, her audience hopped.
"She was never offensive, and her point of view
was generally right on," said longtime friend Georgia Marino. "You
could talk to her about anything."
Met husband at Saturday-night dance
A daughter of Swiss-Italian immigrants, young Erma
Codiroli was born on Oct. 5, 1923, in Los Molinos, Tehama County, and
as a young girl moved with her family to Freestone in western Sonoma
County, where her parents continued ranching. She met her future husband,
Jim Crayne, at a Saturday-night dance in Freestone. They married in
1943 and spent their lives as dairy ranchers. Mr. Crayne died in 1980.
After giving birth to four sons, Mrs. Crayne broke
the streak with a daughter named Kathy, an event that was the talk of
the town in the coastal community.
Ever hardworking, Mrs. Crayne did triple duty, raising
the children, running the house, and tending the dairy herd. "I
can still see her coming out of the barn from milking cows in bib overalls
when she was eight and a half months pregnant with Kathy," Ms.
Marino said.
A fine cook, she could always count on her neighbor
to accept an invitation to dine on her specialty – polenta and
stew.
Cherished laughter
Also known as a great wit, when she got together with
her sisters Alice and Goldie, the trio laughed until they cried, finding
humor in their husbands’ and children's foibles.
In what little free time she had, on occasion Mrs.
Crayne traveled to Reno, relaxing at casino slot machines.
Mrs. Crayne was predeceased by her husband Donald
A. Crayne; sons, Donald M. Crayne; William A. Crayne; and Richard E.
Crayne; sisters, Wilma Codiroli; Alice Mache; Goldie Williamsen; and
her brother, Willie Codiroli.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Jim
and Gayle Crayne of Petaluma; and daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and
Jeff Hughes of Rohnert Park; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Family members suggest that any memorial contributions
be made to The Oaks Alzheimer's and Dementia Care, 450 Hayes Ln., Petaluma
94952; Church of the Assumption of Mary, PO Box 82, Tomales 94971; or
the Tomales Regional History Center, PO Box 262, Tomales 94971.