Loy Acerra Crane joined her late husband, Gary Crane, in the Kingdom of Heaven on Saturday, June 15, 2024. Born in 1940 to the late Caesar Joseph and Sadie Lee Acerra of Memphis, Tennessee, she was the oldest of three siblings, growing up with two supportive brothers, Leslie “Les” Acerra and Steve Acerra, both of Memphis, Tennessee.
Loy and Gary, who was a Navy veteran, met at a drive-in movie theater in Memphis, which led to a loving union that lasted for 37 years and included many adventures.
Loy, or “Nonna” as she was referred to by many, was the embodiment of a servant-leader in her community. She was a long-time volunteer at the West Tennessee State Fair and Madison County 4-H, and she was deeply involved with her church community at Skyline Church of Christ, where she taught Sunday School, kept the nursery, and was a member of the Soul Sisters, Trailblazers, Steel Magnolias, Birthday Club, and many others.
Following the untimely death of her late husband in 2000, Loy spent her time dedicated to her family and community.Whether it was traveling to watch her grandchildren participate in various sporting events, taking a grandson to high school in the morning, serving at a soup kitchen, or judging at a fair, she was an example to all of what it meant to be involved in your community. Loy’s lasting legacy will be exactly that — a woman whose feisty and caring nature inspired and spurred on the many lives she touched.
Loy leaves behind an enduring legacy of love that will live on through her two daughters: Kelli Crane Bonifer (Jackson, Tennessee) and Michele (husband, John) Crane Webster (Charlotte, North Carolina); and four grandchildren: Dominic Joseph Webster (Knoxville, Tennessee), Charles Joseph Duane Bonifer (Pella, Iowa), Sidney Acerra Webster (Nashville, Tennessee), and Gary Parker Crane Bonifer (Jackson, Tennessee). She also leaves behind numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.
Loy will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Please join us on June 24, 2024 at Skyline Church of Christ in Jackson, TN for visitation from 11:00am to 1:00pm, and memorial service at 1:00pm. Graveside service will follow at Highland Memorial Gardens also in Jackson, TN.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Madison County 4-H Endowment with memo of “In memory of Loy Crane” at 309 N. Parkway, Jackson, TN 38305.
Pallbearers to serve: Wesley Steven Acerra, Charles Joseph Bonifer, Gary Parker Bonifer, Jason Crane, Terry Crane, Zachary Joseph Miller, Dominic Joseph Webster, and Sidney Acerra Webster.
Arrington Funeral Directors, 148 W. University Pkwy. Jackson, TN 38305, 731.668.1111, www.arringtonfuneraldirectors.com
