Martha Jean Wise Crecelius

Jean Wise Crecelius was born on her grandparents’ farm near Buena Vista, Ga. on June 7, 1927. Her parents were Phillip and Vivian McMichael Wise. She had one brother, Phillip Raines Wise. In the early spring of 1945, Jean was working in the offices of the PX at Ft. Benning, Ga. A young lieutenant also ate in the same lunchroom. His name was Robert Lee Crecelius from Polson, Montana. After some cross-room flirting, he finally got up the nerve to ask her out. They were married on July 6, 1945. Robert was sent to Japan for a year in August 1945. Jean saved all his paychecks for that year to get them a start in their married life. They lived in several university towns while he worked on his PhD. In 1954, Robert got a job with Shell Oil in California. They lived in California until 1972 when Shell sent them to Houston. I think she was pleased with the move because it got her halfway back home to Georgia. They have been in Houston in the same house for 40 years. In 1995, they built on their 50 acres in Montana. For the last 17 years, they have spent 6 months in each place—winters here and summers in Montana. Jean raised four children who adored her along with many other kids who felt like she was their “second Mom”. These other kids all talk about her Southern hospitality and wonderful food and how she made them feel like they belonged to the family. The family joke is Grandma’s “magic freezer”. You opened the door and casseroles and wonder desserts just seemed to fly out! Jean’s four children are Mary Crecelius Sailors, Robert Wise Crecelius, Dr. Linda Lee Askew and Ann Crecelius Glisan. Mary is married to Gail M. Sailors of New Braunfels, Tex. They have two sons and four grandchildren. Her family is son Robert Sailors and wife, Aimee, and their sons, Hayden and Brighton of New Braunfels, Tex. Her other son is James Sailors and wife, Hollie, and their daughters Emma Grace and Lillie Ann of Houston. Robert is married to Chris Looney Crecelius. They have two daughters and three grandchildren. Their daughter is Corina Keene and husband, Nate. Their children are Nicholas, Tessa Jean and Kevin Robert, of Concord, Calif. Their other daughter is Stephanie and fiancée, Steve, of San Francisco. Linda is married to Dr. Beau Askew of Houston. They have a daughter, Laura of Pittsburg, Pa, and a son, JB of Dallas, Tex. Ann lives in Colorado Springs, Colo. Her three children are Joshua, Rebecca and John, all of Colorado Springs. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Beverly Burgin Wise, of Columbus, Ga. and two nephews, Phillip and Olin and their families. She had numerous other cousins, nieces and nephews. Jean was a Southern lady in every way. Her door was always open to people and she was able to open the “magic freezer” and feed a crowd on a moment’s notice. She also loved their property in Montana. Most nights, she and Robert took a ride in their mule and went off through the woods, never knowing what they might find. She loved making huge baskets of flowers for her deck up there. The flowers there are incredible. Jean was a very giving person. She was always buying gifts for her children and grandchildren. If she saw something that she thought one of the kids would like, she just bought it. As her daughter, all I can say is that she was my best friend. We talked every Saturday. She was the family communication network. She kept everyone up to date on the others. I still have a purse full of Macy’s coupons so we can go shop!