Bernice "Bee" Purcell Crane, 90, of Severna Park, a retired teacher who was the founder of Woods Memorial Child Development Center, died of a stroke Aug. 13 at Future Care-Chesapeake in Arnold.

Mrs. Crane was born Sept. 19, 1913, in Evansville, Ill., the third of seven children of the late Guy M. Purcell Sr. and Marie Wolfe Purcell. She graduated from Indiana University with a bachelor's degree in education, qualifying her to teach high school English, French and botany. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta national social sorority.

She and her husband, Lawrason "Larry" Levering Crane Sr., moved from Knoxville, Tenn., to Riggs Avenue in Severna Park in 1953 where she lived until her death. Her husband, a community activist, died on Oct. 2, 1980.

An activist in Severna Park until a few years ago, she was credited with founding the Woods Memorial Child Development Center in 1954. She was a remedial reading teacher at Benfield Elementary School from 1955 to 1962 and directed the former Wroxeter's preschool program through 1969.

She volunteered to teach remedial reading at Anne Arundel Community College through its retired senior volunteer program and worked with the Literacy Volunteer Office of the Department of Aging and at the Providence Center.

In 1981 she received the "Outstanding Senior Citizen Award" from the Severna Park Jaycees at the 11th annual Maryland Jaycees awards ceremony and was featured in The Capital on Aug. 2, 1987, for her many contributions.

The Cranes were founding members of St. Martin's-in-the-Field Episcopal Church where she served as president of the Women's Guild, was a member and past president of the vestry. She donated many of her famous decorated crab shell Christmas ornaments for fund-raisers.

The couple also took part in Severna Park High School shows to raise money for the Falcons' athletic field. She was an active member of the Panhellenic Club of Annapolis and the Severn Town Club. She also was a member of the Auxiliary of Anne Arundel Medical Center and secretary of Guild for Life at Anne Arundel Community College. She enjoyed theater and travel.

Surviving are three sons, Lawrason Levering Crane Jr. of Severna Park, Richard P. Crane Sr. of Arnold and David M. Crane of Parksley, Va.; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one sister, Peg Purcell Dowling of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Sept. 18 at St. Martin's-in-the-Field Episcopal Church, 375 Benfield Road, Severna Park. Burial will be in the church memorial grounds.

Memorial contributions may be made to North Arundel Hospital Foundation, 301 Hospital Drive, Suite 231, Glen Burnie, MD 21061

As Published in the Capital Newspaper Annapolis Maryland 8/25/2004