Rena Crisp

(From Daniel Funeral Home)

Rena Mae (Miller) Crisp, was born May 22nd, 1936 in Lamar, Missouri, the second child of Harold Eugene Miller and Myrtle (Kunkler) Miller. She was raised in Lamar (spending one year in Nebraska) and graduated from Lamar High School in 1954. 

She attended the University of Missouri in Columbia for two years before marrying and moving to Joliet, Illinois. During subsequent years she lived in Port Huron, Michigan, Bay City, Michigan, Mt. Prospect, Illinois, Overland Park, Kansas, Mountain Grove, Missouri and Lewiston, Indiana before returning to Lamar in 2001.

She married Robert Lang in 1956 and then Don Crisp in 1972, both marriages ended in divorce. Four daughters and their families survive her; Beth and Mike Binder of Springfield, Missouri and daughters, Leslie of Nixa, Missouri and Kirsten Binder of Springfield, Missouri, Christina and Don Rogers of Vancouver, Washington and their daughter Erin Bailey, Marilynn Lang of Tampa, Florida and Jennifer and Chris Patton of Murgon, Queensland, Australia and sons, Mitch, Jordan and Jared Gossow and step children, Emma Topp and Nic, Holly Patton, & Tom Patton, all of Queensland, Australia. Rena is also survived by two step-sons; Richard Crisp of Longview, Washington and David Crisp of Kansas City, Missouri.

Rena was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Myrtle Miller, two brothers; Corp. William (Bill) Eugene Miller, a casualty of the Korean conflict and Allen Miller of Lamar, a stillborn daughter, step-daughter, Anita Crisp and step-son, Justin Crisp.

As well as being an avid reader, Rena was a creative person who enjoyed oil and tole painting, needlework, ceramics, creative writing, crafting and drama. As a young wife in Joliet, Rena and her husband were youth leaders in their church. She found an outlet for her interest in drama by directing plays for the group's fundraisers and as a member of the community theater group. She was a Brownie Troop leader, District Craft Leader for the Girl Scouts and enjoyed creating games and entertainments for family and friends. She developed a family tradition of special wrapped Christmas gifts that her children cherished.

Her concerns for the education of all children led her into active involvement in the PTA where she served as president of the local chapter, district publication chairman and district legislative chairman helping draft and propose state education legislation. She was a member of the League of Women Voters. Her interest in government continued, and when elected as Nez Perce County Treasurer while living in Lewiston, Idaho, she served on the legislation committee of the Idaho State County Treasurers' Association. She was highly respected for her unique ability to view situations clearly, and to offer unbiased thoughts on possible solutions.

Rena's vocational experiences varied from waiting tables at Pike's Peak Summit House to being a certified Husqvarna Chainsaw mechanic. Most of her working life she held secretarial and bookkeeping positions in a small drugstore chain in Lewiston, ID as Nez Perce County Treasurer in Idaho and as church secretaries at Indian Heights United Methodist Church in Overland Park, KS and at Lamar United Methodist Church in Lamar, MO.

She enjoyed traveling and was able to visit all but 7 of our 50 United States. She especially enjoyed her trips to Alaska, Australia and Sweden. She was a member of the GFWC Atheneum Club in Lamar, United Methodist Women and Martha-Ruth Church Circle, the Hospital Auxiliary, an honorary lifetime member of the PTA and a member of the Palouse Promenaders Square Dance Club of Moscow, Idaho.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, December 6, 2021 at Daniel Funeral Home with burial to follow in Oakton Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 3:00 pm, Sunday, December 5, 2021 at the funeral home.

Contributions are suggested and made payable to Missouri Girl's Town or to Lamar United Methodist Church Library Fund in care of Daniel Funeral Home.

Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com