Obituary of Meta Crane

Meta Young Crane of Sewanee, Tennessee, died January 16, 2015, after a long illness. She was born in Albany, Georgia on November 6, 1924, to Patty Eppes Young and Edward Young. Meta completed her secondary education at St. Mary's School for Women in Raleigh, North Carolina, after which she attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. She pursued additional studies in fashion merchandising in New York City. In 1963, she was graduated magna cum laude from Alabama College (now Montevallo University). She obtained a master's degree in Library Science from Florida State University in 1968. In 1948, after working in post-war Germany for the U.S. State Department, she married William Dyer Shackelford, with whom she raised their four daughters in Clanton, Alabama. She taught high school English and worked in the Chilton County, Alabama Regional Library. After completing her master's degree, she worked with classified documents at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. Meta lived for 20 years in Arizona before moving to Sewanee, Tennessee to be with her daughter, Theresa Shackelford. In addition to her daughter, Theresa Shackelford, and grandson, William Gilchrist, Meta is survived by two sons, adopted by affection, Michael Gusich and John Douville of Tucson, Arizona, daughters Meta Shackelford of Opelika, Alabama, Patty Nelson of Montgomery, Alabama, Maria Shackelford of Atlanta, Georgia, grandchildren, and two half brothers. She was predeceased by her parents, former husbands, and a half sister. Meta will be remembered by her devoted family and friends for her boundless hospitality, keen intellect, spirit of adventure and indomitable spirit. The family would like to thank the staff at Southern Manor in Winchester, Tennessee for their exceptional care and love of Meta during her residence, especially through her final illness. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am on January 21, at Otey Memorial, Sewanee, Tennessee, with the Reverend Jesse Reeves officiating. Memorials may be sent to The Dominican Monastery of St. Jude, 143 County Rd. 20 East, Marbury, AL 36051. Arrangements are provided by Cumberland Funeral Home, Monteagle, Tennessee, (931)924-2381.