Ann Frances (Cirou) Crosbie, mother of MEF Board member Jen Sporl’s partner Jackie, passed away peacefully early morning of September 29, 2026 in Rolla. Ann was born on March 22, 1942, in Oklahoma City. While in high school in Oklahoma City, Ann met the love of her life, Alfred “Al” Crosbie, who she married in 1963. She graduated Mercy Hospital School of Nursing in 1963 and became an RN, the start of her lifelong passion and 45+ year career in nursing. Ann and Al had 2 children – Mark and Jackie. They moved the family to Rolla, Missouri where they would make their home for more than 58 years.
Ann started working at Phelps County Regional Medical Center in Rolla in 1969. She cared for countless patients and families in nearly every corner of the hospital— Surgery, Emergency Room, Pain Clinic, Oncology, Obstetrics and Childbirth and clinical education. Nursing was more than a profession for Ann – it was a way of caring for people and making a difference in their lives.
Although Ann retired in 2009, her impact could be seen for many years to come. It was not unusual for the family to meet someone who would light up at the mention of Ann and say, “Ann helped deliver my baby,” or remember her from a visit to the ER. Ann touched generations of families through her work.
Ann was devoted to her faith, which shaped the way she cared for others. But perhaps the quality that best captured Ann was her ability to make people feel welcome. Ann never met a stranger. She was quick with a joke, generous with her laughter, and had a remarkable ability to bring joy to the people around her. She could make a new acquaintance feel like an old friend, and her warmth and humor left an impression on everyone she met.
Ann is survived by her beloved husband of 63 years, Alfred Crosbie, her children Mark Crosbie and Jacqueline Crosbie, and her grandchildren Joshua, Jonathan, and Anna Crosbie with her great-grandson Samuel Crosbie on the way. She is also survived by her sister Betty Balkenbush and Betty’s husband Jim Balkenbush Sr., and her nieces and nephews.
Ann leaves behind a legacy of love, faith, service, and laughter. She spent her life caring for others, raising a family, supporting her husband, and bringing lightness and joy wherever she went. She will be deeply missed by her family, her friends, and the many people who were fortunate enough to know her. Her family takes comfort in knowing that Ann’s long journey is now complete and that she is at peace, held in the love and grace that guided her throughout her life.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Maasai Education Foundation (MEF). MEF contributions will help build a health clinic for the school and local community.