Margaret Ann (Evans) Crouse

Margaret Evans Crouse
April 24, 1942 – April 21, 2025

With profound sadness and enduring gratitude, we share the passing of Margaret Evans Crouse on April 21, 2025, just three days before her 83rd birthday. A beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and tireless servant of her community, Margaret’s life was a shining example of love, leadership, and legacy.  She passed peacefully at the Woltz Hospice House in Dobson, NC, surrounded by her family who loved her dearly.

Born on April 24, 1942, to Cliff and Louise Evans, Margaret was raised with strong values rooted in family, faith, and service. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Sam Evans; her first husband and father of her children, James Cox; and her second husband, Carroll Crouse.

Margaret leaves behind a family who adored her: her children—Chris Cox and his wife, Tammy; Lisa Laird and her husband, Terry; and Jeff Cox and his wife, Reba—as well as seven grandchildren—Adam (wife Renee), Katelyn (fiancé Ryan), Dylan (wife Shae), Evan (fiancée Kyrstan), Zach, Kayden (fiancée Alex), and Jac and six great-grandchildren—Betty, Emmett, Kyndal, Zoe, Vincent  and Roman—who knew her as a source of unconditional love, wisdom, and strength. She is also survived by her sister, Sandy, countless nieces, nephews, cousins, and an entire community who loved her.

While Margaret’s love for her family was the heartbeat of her life, her commitment to her community was its soul. A pillar of Alleghany County, Margaret was an original member of the Alleghany Educational Foundation, serving with distinction on its board for over 40 years, tirelessly championing educational opportunities for local students.  She would almost always get teary-eyed when talking about giving scholarships to students to allow them to pursue a college education.  It mattered deeply to her.

She dedicated decades of her life to service in both the Order of the Eastern Star and the Boy Scouts of America, where she earned the highest honors awarded by each organization. Margaret believed in nurturing leadership, character, and compassion in younger generations, and she led by example in every role she held.

Margaret was also a driving force behind the Sparta Revitalization efforts, helping breathe new life into the town she cherished. As a long-standing and active member—and eventual board chair—of the Alleghany Chamber of Commerce, she helped shape and support local businesses with her characteristic insight, diplomacy, and determination.  Her vision and energy made her a cornerstone of progress in the region.

Honoring the history of Alleghany County was important to Margaret. She was one of the founding members and most active volunteers of the Alleghany Historical Museum, where she worked to preserve the stories and spirit of the place she called home.

Her compassion extended to health and wellness causes as well—she was a passionate supporter of Relay for Life and the American Red Cross, donating several gallons of blood throughout her lifetime and inspiring others with her quiet yet powerful example of selfless giving.

Margaret’s commitment to community health was certainly influenced by her decades-long tenure at Alleghany Memorial Hospital. Beginning her career at the hospital as one of the outstanding secretaries in the front business office, she rose through the ranks to become the Chief Administrator of the hospital.  She maintained a life-long connection with many of her colleagues at the hospital, whom she always thought of more as family than employees.

The family has been overwhelmed by the kind words expressed by hundreds in the community about Margaret’s legacy of kindness, generosity and service to her community.  It is clear the whole community will mourn this loss of one of its pillars.

A celebration of her life will be held at 11:00am on May 3, 2025, at Cornerstone Church in Sparta, NC.  The family will receive friends and family in the home following the service. In lieu of flowers, Margaret wanted you to consider making a donation to the Alleghany Educational Foundation (Click Here to Donate, or mail a check to PO Box 33 Sparta, North Carolina 28675) to support a child’s college education.  The family will be establishing a scholarship in Margaret’s name to memorialize her life, her legacy of community service and her belief in the life-changing power of education. 

Margaret Evans Crouse was a kind and gentle soul, who loved her family and serving her community.  Her legacy lives on in every life she touched.

Thomas Family Funeral Service is honored to be serving the Crouse family.  If you wish, online tributes may extended to the family at www.thomasfamilyfs.com

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