Maurice Brownell CRABBE

BROWNELL, CRABBE, COOPER, PURCELL, SMITH, BARNES

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:56

Maurice Brownell Crabbe
13 July 1905 ---- 27 April 1969

Funeral services were held Wednesday April 30 for Maurice B Crabbe, publisher of the Eagle Grove Eagle, who suffered a fatal heart attack Sunday afternoon, April 27.

Maury was at home resting when he suffered the heart attack. He was found shortly after 5 p.m. by his wife, Carolyn, who had been outside working in the yard.

Active during the day, he had been to church that morning and to the office for a brief time. That evening he was planning to attend a dinner at the home of Mrs. Crabbe's sister, Mrs. E. L. Cooper, along with their close friends, Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Purcell Sr. of Hampton.

Services were held at 2:00 p.m. in the First Congregational Church of the United Church of Christ which overflowed with mourners from throughout the community, county, and state. Burial was in the family plot in Rose Hill Cemetery.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, a son, James, a daughter, Margery, and six grandchildren.

Funeral Service

Rev. Emmett Braselton, pastor of the First Congregational Church, used as the text of his sermon a quote from Jesus Christ, "He who would be great among you must be the servant of all." Rev. Braselton recalled three approaches to Maury Crabbe's life - public, churchman, and personal.

In many ways and in many capacities, he served his community, county, and state both with his newspaper and his personal efforts. He had a great concern and worked tirelessly for good government, honest and integrity in politics and public education among many other things.

As a man devoted to his church, Rev. Braselton told of Maury’s high moral convictions and of his loyalty and service to his church.

The pastor said he feels from Maury’s religious faith came the dynamic qualities of his personality and his desire to live, serve, and make a better world.

Rev. Braselton spoke on Maury’s qualities as a husband, father, and a friend which brought him admiration from those who knew him.

His Life

Maurice Brownell Crabbe was born July 13, 1905 at Ashton, S.D., the son of Dr. James Maurice Crabbe and Harriett Brownell Crabbe. His father died when he was very young and he moved with his mother to Grinnell, Iowa where he was graduated from high school in 1923.

He attended Mason City Junior College, Grinnell College, The University of Iowa, and The University of Missouri.

Prior to coming to Eagle Grove, he was employed by the gas and electric company in Mason City, the Maytag company in Newton and in the advertising department of the Daily Iowan in Iowa City.

He joined the staff of the Eagle Grove Eagle in June of 1929 as an advertising salesman.

On Thanksgiving Day of that same year, he was married to Carolyn Elizabeth Smith of Newton. To this union were born a son and a daughter, James, and Margery.

In 1934 he purchased an interest in the Eagle Grove Eagle from H. Ward Barnes, owner, and publisher. He became full owner of the newspaper in 1947 following the death of Mr. Barnes. Until the time of Mr. Barnes’ death Maury was in the advertising department and then shifted to the news and editorials.

The crowning point of his newspaper career came in 1963 when he was presented the Master Editor-Publisher Award, the highest honor accorded by Iowa newspapermen through the Iowa Press Association.

He was president of the Iowa Press Association in 1961-62 after serving several years on the Board of Directors. Through the years he had also served six years as a member of the State Board of Regents and on the State Printing Board.

On the local level he was an original member of the Board of Directors of the Rotary Ann Home for the Retired and was serving on the Board at the time of his death, was past president of the Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce, past chairman of the Wright County Republicans, and past member of the Official Board of the Congregational Church.

EAGLE GROVE EAGLE ---- Eagle Grove, Iowa
Thursday, May 1, 1969

source -- Paul Wilde