Otho Pearle Cooley Crisler
Sunrise: January 6, 1923
Sunset: December 16, 2022
Pearle was proud to be the oldest Veteran in Habersham County and was holding out for that 100th birthday. She almost made it.
Born in Pittsburg, Texas, she left home soon after graduating from high school in search of excitement. She first found that excitement as a real-life Rosie the Riveter at Consolidated Aircraft in Fort Worth, Texas, where she was trained to build B-24 and C-87 bombers that were utilized in WWII. After that, she joined the US Navy WAVES, and was sent for basic training in New York City, New York. She then traveled by troop train to Norman, Oklahoma, where she was trained as an Aviation Machinist Mate. With this training, she was instrumental in maintaining the biplanes for WWII pilot trainees. It was shortly after this that she met her future husband, William Neville Crisler. They were married for over 50 years until the time of his death in 1995.
Pearle was an active member of the Habersham County Senior Center, where she thoroughly enjoyed playing cards with her friends and meeting monthly with fellow Veterans in the Vet-to-Vet Café. She was proud of her responsibility of sending all of the birthday, get well, and sympathy cards on behalf of the Senior Center. She was also an active member of the Senior Center’s Red Birds club, where she served as Secretary, and only relinquished her duties a few months ago. She loved making beaded jewelry and got much joy from giving her handmade items to just about anyone who crossed her path.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, Otho “Shotgun” Cooley and Allie Pearl Cooley; daughter, Cathey “CC” Crisler; granddaughter, René Braker; and sister, Florine Tucker.
She is survived by her children, Cheryl Crisler of Cornelia, Georgia, Chris Crisler (Marina) of Cornelia, Georgia, Shane Crisler (Kim) of Roy, Washington; grandchildren, Robin Bowman, Todd Scrutchfield, Scott Scrutchfield, Melissa Peterson, Daniel Sutton, Joey Lind, Keith Lind, Angélique Sachak, Brittany Brown, Crystalyn Carney, Jessica Crisler, Chelsea Crisler; and nineteen great-grandchildren.
A special thanks to Carolyn, Jamie, Becky, and Ajia of Northeast Georgia Medical Center Hospice for the excellent care they provided in the last few months.
In honoring Pearle’s wishes, she will be cremated, and no formal memorial will be held.
An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinandstewart.com.
Mcgahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia (706/778-8668) is in charge of arrangements.
