Charlotte Ann Bauer-Crank

Charlotte Ann Crank, a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, walked right into the arms of Jesus on November 7, 2024 after a fulfilling and purposeful life. Charlotte was born Charlotte Ann Bauer on May 2, 1934 in Enid, Oklahoma to John Abner and Edna Irlene Bauer. She grew up with her older brother, Johnny, on her family’s farm which had been won by her grandparents in the Oklahoma Land Run of 1893. From an early age, she made it clear that she could accomplish anything that she set her mind to by taking over every social and academic club that her community and school had to offer. Upon graduating as valedictorian of Medford High School in 1952, she was ready for a new adventure at Oklahoma State University, formerly Oklahoma A&M. While at OSU, Charlotte was an active student on campus. She was a member of many social and academic clubs, but she took the greatest pride in being a member of the Chi Omega Sorority where she would eventually become president during her junior and senior years. While studying to earn her bachelor’s degree in Housing and Interior Design she met her future husband, Stephen Crank. They were married shortly after their graduation on June 3rd, 1956 in Medford, OK. After they were married, Steve and Charlotte settled in Houston, Texas. While there, they were blessed with their children: Robert Kevin Crank and Stephanie Ann Crank. The family would go on to move several times, settling in New Jersey, Ohio, and Michigan. Finally, in 1977 they returned to Steve’s hometown of Muskogee, OK where they remained. In Muskogee, Charlotte was well-known for her social and philanthropic endeavors. Charlotte and Steve were active members of St. Paul United Methodist Church where they volunteered their time on mission trips, in the community food pantry, and by serving holiday meals to those in need. During this time, Charlotte was also a Court Appointed Special Advocate of Oklahoma County where she championed the best interests of children in foster care. She also continued to support her beloved Oklahoma State University by serving on multiple alumni committees before being named the National President of the OSU Alumni Association in 1986, becoming only the second female president of the association during its first hundred years. She would later be granted the esteemed honor of becoming a lifetime member. Steve and Charlotte spent much of their retirement at their cabin on the Illinois River as members of Sequoyah Club. Above all, Charlotte was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was constantly watching sports games and musical recitals, and in her later years loved nothing more than watching her great-grandchildren learn to swim. She greatly valued learning and nature. She was a champion fossil hunter, and collector of wildflowers. She loved both the rare and exotic birds she would see on her travels and the little chickadees and nuthatches that lived outside her bedroom window. She treasured books, a yummy meal, a walk through a museum, and all of the friends that she had collected throughout her life. In a perfect world, Charlotte would have spent more time with dogs. Charlotte was greeted in Heaven by her parents, her brother, and her daughter, Stephanie. She said goodbye for now to her husband of sixty-eight years, Stephen Crank, her son Kevin and his wife Julie, her grandchildren, John Bauer Crank and his wife Andrea; Morgan Ann Stancil and her husband Jordan; Mollie Louise Sherman and her husband Seth and Stephen Mack Crank. Her great-grandchildren, Liam, Ellis and Rory Stancil, Ava and Naomi Crank and Sophie and Ivy Sherman. A celebration of Charlotte’s life will be 11AM, Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at Greenhill Cemetery with Pastor Steve Moss officiating.

Charlotte Ann Bauer-Crank

May 2, 1934 - November 7, 2024