Connie Rae Cranford

Connie Rae (Sullens) Cranford was born in Salem, IL on February 20, 1950, to Harley Ray and Eva Mae Sullens. From her childhood, every adult around her recognized the curious free spirit she was. She loved being outside and playing with her cousins. She loved collecting interesting rocks, bark with delicate mossy patterns, sticks that could double as swords, and seeds that looked like faces. She did these things as a kid — and that inner kiddo kept collecting interesting things she found in nature as an adult, too. 

Momma loved a bed of wildflowers! She was known to allow the grass in her lawn to go to seed. She would have loved living in the middle of a meadow beside a row of trees — or maybe really a forest. Something with grassy hills and tunnels and caves to explore. 

She loved animals — and they loved her. As a kid I watched her approach a spooked horse and calm that horse with ease simply by looking at it and speaking to it gently, and then she guide that horse back into the pen without ever touching the lead. All of my friends would bring their wounded pets, or some random bird, to our house to have her name the ailment and nurse them back to health. We ourselves had every kind of pet you can imagine! She didn’t want any harm to come to nature or animals. And she’d rather take an animal in than see it suffer “in the wild.” 

It wasn’t only animals momma could help calm. Her presence calmed people as well. When she worked as a Security Supervisor at the Sedgwick County Zoo, I witnessed her step into extremely heated conversations — especially during those night events of old — and have everyone at ease and laughing before all was said and done. She could change the energy of any room she entered just by stepping across the threshold. 

When we were little, momma made the difficult choice to forgo any of the careers other people wanted her to pursue so that she could be at home when my sister and I got home from school. Instead of working outside the home, she worked inside it. Momma ran an unofficial daycare of sorts during the 1970s and 80s. She took care of other people’s kids — raising children in community. She incorporated learning colors, numbers, and letters, art, and other activities into each day. And she must have potty trained 20 different kids over fifteen years of service! 

Even when life moved her out of her security role at the zoo, she ensured she maintained a presence at what she deemed her happy place. Having made several animal friends, it wasn’t uncommon to find her in the Veldt building on Saturday morning cleaning the elephant yard, hippo pool, and rhino runs. She loved to talk about being licked by the giraffes and she’d always stroll through the exhibits before she left to say hello to her friend, Mars, the chimpanzee. She loved every second of every day that she spent at that place! 

As much as she loved animals, and her own children, when momma became a grandmother, everything changed. The delight in her eyes over my sister’s kids has been captured numerous times through photos. She loved to listen to little ones as their minds were learning and growing and expanding. She loved to attend their events and be present in whatever way she could to show them her support and love. It was always great fun to watch her light up when you spoke their names in her presence. 

Momma didn’t save this love for just her own. As a kid, all of our friends loved to come to our house. Many times I was told my mom was “so cool,” although, as a child, I didn’t agree! (As an adult, I definitely understand.) Momma had many bonus kids, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. 

I used to tease momma and call her “Mother Nature.” She had every kind of plant you could imagine. She brought “dead” plants back to life. She could look at a plant and tell you what it needed without being able to explain how she knew it. She didn’t grow them as a hobby as much as she grew them because she wanted them in her life. She wanted to be surrounded by green plants and tall trees and live in a cabin in the woods. 

In 2018, my wife and I were able to move momma to Tennessee with the help of a lot of really great people who supported us in many ways. She was able to live in a cabin with her cats and have wildflowers and feed songbirds while surrounded by trees. 

On Saturday, August 22, 2026, momma returned to the great expanse, to Heaven, to Love, to Spirit. We were able to tend to and care for her throughout her final days and love her onto her next adventure. While I would have never believed I’d have peace about living in this world without her, she poured so much love into me while she was here it continues to overflow. We believe that love never truly ends and souls continue on. While I can’t go into the next room and hear her laugh, her joy will always live within my heart. She and daddy are together again — free, whole, and who they were always meant to be. And she is within every breath I take, for without her, I could not be. 

My sister and I (and our families), her sisters (and their families) are deeply grateful for your prayers, love and support during this time. Momma and Daddy will be buried together in Sedgwick County, Kansas at a later date. Those details will be supplied as they’re available. We thank you for loving momma as much as we do.

Arrangements entrusted to Humphreys County Funeral Home, (931) 296-5955