Harriett Crago

Harriett Kirk Crago of Vero Beach, Florida, died August 2, 2018. She was born and reared in Jacksonville, Florida, daughter of Harriett Seymour Kirk and William Wilson Kirk, M.D.

She was graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, Florida, and from Florida State University. At the University she was a member of Alpha Delta Pi social sorority, Mortar Board, and Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. She also earned a Master’s degree and Education Specialist degree from Florida Atlantic University and Nova University, respectively.

She married her life mate, Richard Leon Crago, in 1947. They lived in Columbus, Mississippi, and St. Petersburg, Florida, before moving to Vero Beach in 1962. In St. Petersburg, Harriett and Dick were charter members of Pasadena Presbyterian Church. This was a significant experience in their lives. In Vero Beach she worked as an English teacher and Guidance Counselor in the public schools.

After retiring in 1988, she was appointed a trustee of (then) Indian River Community College. During her eleven year term she served as board chairperson and as state chairperson of the Division of Trustees of the Florida Association of Community Colleges. She was Florida State Trustee of the year in 1999, and was awarded the President’s Cup (the college’s highest honor) in 1998. Upon her retirement, the board named her Trustee Emerita. Her daughter and son-in-law, Laura and Alan Kauffmann, in her honor created the Harriett Kirk Crago faculty award, awarded each year to the faculty person of the year at Indian River State College.

She served several terms on the Board of Association for Retarded Citizens. She belonged to the Indian River and Florida Retired Educators Association. She sang in church choirs most of her adult life. She also sang in the Vero Beach Chorale Society and the Treasure Coast Chorale. She was an elder and longtime member of First Presbyterian Church. She was for many years a volunteer for VNA/Hospice. She was a charter member of the Vero Beach Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, honor society for women educators, and a founding member of the Vero Beach Chapter of American Association of University Women. She participated regularly with beloved college classmates in semi-annual mini reunions. She enjoyed extensive worldwide travel.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Faith June Crago and her husband Richard L. Crago.

Survivors include: daughter and son-in-law Laura and Alan Kauffmann of Vero Beach; daughter Mary Weathersby of Spring Hill, Florida; grandchildren Ainsley and Scott Seeley and Kiera Black of Vero Beach: grandchildren Briana and John Weathersby of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and ten beloved great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Harriett Kirk Crago Award at Indian River State College 3209 Virginia Avenue Ft. Pierce, Fl. 34981.

A celebration of life ceremony will be held August 11 at 11:00 am at First Presbyterian Church, Vero Beach.