Rose Crane

On June 3, 2012 Rose Lynn Crane died, peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, after a short, but fierce, battle with cancer. She was 65. Her long-standing directive was that her life be celebrated—not her death mourned—with joy and music and laughter and wine. That celebration will occur in the Great Hall of the Clinton Presidential Library on June 11, with her oldest and dearest friends remembering her. Born in Hot Springs, Arkansas on October 16, 1946—her parents’ fourth anniversary—the first child of Edith Mary Dillon and Larry Eugene Crane, Sr. inherited intelligence from her mother and strength, common sense, industry, determination, and fierce loyalty from her father. Her innate sense of style and elegance was all her own and few could match it. She lived life on her terms from start to finish. She held a degree in public relations and communications and pursued a 40-year career that began at a local start up called FedEx. From there, she moved into the political and non-profit arenas, first as the Director of Public Relations of the Museum of Science and History at MacArthur Park, then to join Governor Bill Clinton’s first cabinet as Director of the Department of Natural and Cultural Heritage, and finally to found her own public relations firm, Crane and Associates. She chaired the Millennium Ball in celebration of President Bill Clinton’s 1997 Inauguration and was a proud member of the Arkansas Travelers, trekking across the nation in support of the presidential campaigns of President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She had the greenest of green thumbs and was a Master Gardener. She was instrumental in the development of the Clinton Birthplace as a national monument, the Thea Foundation, and the Arkansas Maritime Museum and served as community representative on the Arkansas State Medical Board. Throughout her life, she gave generously of her time, talent, and treasure to a number of local non-profit organizations she believed deeply in, including the Arthritis Foundation and the Arkansas Council for International Visitors. In lieu of flowers, donations to the non-profits she so loved would have pleased her. The celebration of her life will be held June 11 at the Clinton Presidential Library at 10 am. Her family welcomes her many friends and associates to join them. For reservations, contact rose@clintonschool.uasys.edu. Seating is limited.

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