Joanne Crawley Friesenhahn

Joanne Brewster Crawley Friesenhahn, 80, passed away on December 10, 2025.

Joanne is survived by her husband, Larry Friesenhahn, her two children, Dayna Crawley-Howell and Donald Crawley, and her brother, Bobby Haney. She was preceded in death by her first husband of thirty years, Alton R. Crawley, her parents, and her grandparents, Rev. and Mrs. J.J. Brewster of Bryan, Texas.

Joanne was raised by her grandparents and played the piano in her grandfather’s church from the time she was nine years old. She graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in Bryan, Texas in May 1964 and she attended Allen Junior College where she was a member of Phi Theta Kappa and Texas A&M University. After growing up in Bryan, Texas, she moved to Monroe, Louisiana; Bowling Green, Kentucky; and Arkadelphia, Arkansas. She worked as a Financial Aid Counselor at Ouachita University in Arkadelphia for fourteen years. Joanne was one of the organists at Ascension Catholic Church in Bastrop, Texas and later at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rockne, Texas where she was also an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, a lector, and a member of the Parish Council. Joanne’s hobbies included music and “anything with a needle” (except medical).

The Rite of Christian Burial, including a recitation of the Rosary, the Funeral Mass, and a Committal Service will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rockne, Texas. Services will be held on Thursday, January 15, 2026. The Mass will begin at 10:00 a.m. with the Recitation of the Rosary before the Mass and burial to follow it.

Joanne was passionate about education and helping college students achieve their goals through her work as well as her philanthropy. She established a scholarship fund in 1996 for students at Ouachita Baptist University. In lieu of flowers, you can remember Joanne with a gift to the Alton and Joanne Crawley Scholarship.

Ouachita Baptist University scholarship fund 
Send a check payable to: Ouachita Baptist University 
OBU Box 3754 
Arkadelphia, AR 71998 
Be sure to include "Alton and Joanne Crawley Scholarship" in the memo line to ensure the donation is directed to the correct fund.

Online contributions: https://obu.edu/development/give.php In the box under "Please leave specific instructions for your gift:" enter Donation goes to "Alton and Joanne Crawley Scholarship";