Mary Jane Putnam CrawfordSebastianMary Jane Putnam Crawford passed away on Tuesday, July 25th, 2017, at Sebastian River Medical Center.Mary Jane was the eldest child of Dr. Issac S. Putnam and Lucy Marie Feight Putnam, and was born on July 29th, 1924 in Dillonvale, Ohio.Raised in Southeastern Ohio, she graduated from the Mount Dechantel Academy in Wheeling, WV. With a life-long desire to help and serve others, she graduated as a registered nurse from The Ohio State University School College of Nursing in 1946 as Valedictorian. She subsequently was chosen as one of the first registered nurses to graduate from the School of Nurse Anesthesia and pass, with Distinction, the National Board as a CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist). While training at Ohio State, Mary Jane met and married the love of her life, Dr. Kenneth L. Crawford, with whom she shared 69 1/2 years of storybook marriage.In her career as a nurse anesthetist, which spanned 38 years, she established and operated her own independent practice in Baraboo, Wisconsin, and took a sabbatical during her children's formative years from 1957-1963. Subsequently, she undertook further training and began a second career in anesthesia in Baltimore, Maryland. Over the next 21 years, she practiced nurse anesthesia in several hospitals, but most importantly, she was Chief of Nurse Anesthesia at Maryland General Hospital. It was there that she was an instructor in anesthesia for many students, including her son, Joseph, who was a medical student rotating at the hospital.Mary Jane was beloved by her family as everyone's champion and angel, and thought of as the glue that held them all together. With her influence and support, both of her children graduated from medical school to practice the art and science of medicine, and serve others like their mother before them. She was graceful, intelligent, charming, refined, empathetic, and modest. Her quiet strength and determination inspired her entire family. These qualities and her tireless support of her family made her the best mother and grandmother we could have hoped for.She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Kenneth L. Crawford. She is survived by her two children, Dr. Joseph P. Crawford of Vero Beach and Sebastian and Dr. Paula L. Crawford of San Antonio, Texas, her daughter-in-law, Dr. Cynthia S. Crawford of Vero Beach and Sebastian, and her grandchildren, Kevin Putnam Crawford and Katherine Marie Crawford, both of Columbus, Ohio.A memorial service in her honor will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Vero Beach on Tuesday, August 1st, 2017 at 6pm with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a contribution in her honor be made to The American Security Council Foundation, P.O Box 781040 Sebastian, FL 32978. Please indicate in memory of Mary Jane Crawford on the memo line.Arrangements are under the direction of Strunk Funeral Home, Vero Beach.An online guestbook is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com