Rachel L. Crary

Rachel was born on May 15, 1947 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She was raised in Ann Arbor attending the University High School. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors at the University of Michigan in 1971 majoring in French and studying abroad in Paris. She later earned a Master of Arts in Librarianship at the University of Denver (1980) and a Master of Arts degree from Northern Michigan University (1980). After college, Rachel joined her brother Tom who lived in the Upper Peninsula and in the early 1970s settled in Marquette.

Rachel was a seasoned international traveler with a stack of well-worn passports. In 1955 at the age of 8, Rachel traveled with her family for a year throughout Africa. With her father the geographer and her mother a map maker, each member of the family kept a journal and took pictures to document Douglas’ research on settlement in Africa.

The Crary family spent their summers at a cottage on the Leelanau Peninsula. Rachel collaborated with the Township and the Leelanau Conservancy to preserve the 104.5 acres of farm and forest now known as the Clay Cliffs Natural Area with shoreline on both Lake Leelanau and Lake Michigan. Wishing to conserve the places that they loved, Rachel and her sister Beth donated land in 2007 to the City of Ann Arbor to create Crary Park on behalf of their family.

Rachel served as the research librarian in the Longyear Library. She was well known as the Editor for 28 years of Harlow’s Wooden Man, the quarterly journal of the Marquette Regional History Center. Dana Welshans wrote that when Rachel ‘was in the midst of an article, it consumed her. She wanted everything to be as researched and accurate as possible.’ With ‘her endless curiosity and her fascination with history, [she felt the] need to share these stories. They are a part of our local history. Rachel is a quiet, humble person. But she was proud of Harlow’s Wooden Man, rightly so. It was a stellar compilation of anecdotal history of our region.’ Rachel was recognized for her work with the MRHC’s Helen Longyear Award in 2021.

Rachel loved Lake Superior and was often seen walking along the lakeshore or around Presque Isle and eating chocolate ice cream. She was an avid reader and enjoyed her Book Club forming many enduring friendships. She had a great love of music and attended the Marquette Symphony, the City Band, the Marquette Male Chorus, the Marquette Choral Society and the Superior String Alliance.

Rachel was preceded in death by her mother Margeret Irene (Fead) Crary (1997), brother Thomas H. Crary (2000), sister Martha D. (Crary) Helpern (2004), father Douglas Dunham Crary (2006), and Elizabeth (Beth) A. Crary (2010). She was devoted to the care of her parents, Tom and Beth in their final years.

She is survived by many cousins including Alexander and Sarah Crary, Robert Hall, Beverly Fead Leys and a great many friends who witnessed her generous and giving spirit.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to the Peter White Public Library or the Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter that are among Rachel’s favorite local causes. A celebration of life will be held at a later date and announced by the Canale-Tonella Funeral Home and Cremation Services.