Merry Roline Crews Askew Crank, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, librarian, and devoted family historian, passed away peacefully on July 8, 2026, in Denton, Texas, at the age of 80.

Roline was born on November 14, 1945, in Stillwater, Oklahoma. She was lovingly adopted and raised by Roland and Eloine Crews, who nurtured her with unwavering love and provided the foundation for the remarkable woman she became. Later in life, she was grateful to reconnect with her birth mother, Charlena Ware, a relationship she deeply cherished. Both her adoptive parents and her birth mother preceded her in death.

She was raised in Poteau, Oklahoma, where she attended school from kindergarten through high school, graduating with the Class of 1964. She continued her education at Southeastern University before earning her bachelor's degree from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1989, demonstrating her lifelong commitment to learning.

On December 31, 1966, she married James Gordon Askew in Poteau, Oklahoma, beginning a life together built on love and family. Their greatest joy came with the birth of their son, Steve, on August 7, 1969. Though Jim preceded her in death, the love they shared remained an enduring part of her life.

Roline devoted much of her professional life to serving others. She shared her love of books and learning as a librarian for Howe Public Schools, where she encouraged generations of students to discover the joy of reading. She also served as a house mother for the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and the Alpha Delta Pi sorority at Oklahoma State University, providing guidance, encouragement, and a welcoming home to countless young adults.

A woman of many passions, Roline was an avid reader and a gifted cook who delighted in preparing meals for family and friends. Perhaps no hobby captured her heart more than genealogy. It was through her passion for family history that she was able to reconnect with her birth family, an experience that enriched her life and reflected her deep appreciation for the people and stories that shaped her heritage. She spent countless hours researching her family's roots, preserving stories, and connecting generations through their shared history, ensuring that her family's legacy would be remembered for years to come.

Roline was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where her testimony, kindness, and spirit of service were evident throughout her life.

Following the passing of James, Roline found love again and married Ron Crank on November 13, 2022. Together they shared a joyful and loving marriage, making their home in Durant, Oklahoma, and later in Denton, Texas, where they enjoyed their remaining years together with adventures including fishing, motorcycle riding, and playing games with friends.

Roline is survived by her devoted husband, Ron Crank; her son, Steve Askew, and daughter-in-law, Michelle Askew; twelve cherished grandchildren; eight treasured great-grandchildren; her half-brother, Bill Ware; her half-sister, Suzie Swart, her step-son Wesley Crank and step-daughter, Casi Currington, all of whom she loved dearly.

She was preceded in death by her adoptive parents, Roland and Eloine Crews; her birth mother, Charlena Ware; and her first husband, James Gordon Askew.

Roline will be remembered for her gentle heart, quiet strength, unwavering faith, love of family, and generous spirit. Whether sharing a favorite book, tracing a family lineage, preparing a meal, or simply offering a listening ear, she made those around her feel loved and valued. Her legacy lives on in the family she cherished, the lives she touched, and the memories that will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.

True to her nature, Roline was never one for fuss or fanfare and made it known that she did not wish to have a funeral service. Instead, her family invites those who wish to honor her memory to celebrate her life by sharing a favorite book with a child, researching their own family history, preparing a meal for someone they love, or by making a memorial donation to Reach Out and Read Oklahoma, an organization that provides books to young children and encourages a lifelong love of reading.

The family finds comfort in knowing that Roline's legacy of faith, learning, kindness, and love for family will continue through the generations she so dearly cherished.