My first good recollection of Cindy Crain was in 2010 at a farewell for National Guard troops from Mount Joy who were leaving for a deployment to Iraq. I remember asking, and receiving, permission to publish a photo of her daughter, Taylor, 2, hugging her daddy, Cory, a CH-47 helicopter pilot whom she would not see in a long time.
Cindy, 46, of Park View, kept order at home for a year with three young girls, and did it again in 2017 when by then she was employed at The North Scott Press.
Since 2015, Cindy has been the face and voice of The NSP when customers call with questions about subscriptions and classified ads. She did all this, and more, while providing tough love and guidance for busy daughters Audrea, a freshman at Wartburg, Reese, a junior, and Taylor, in eighth grade, at North Scott.
She knew their comings and goings and was an ever-present rock to celebrate their successes and provide whatever support was needed when times were tough. Her love for those girls was unconditional, second to none.
To say Cindy was a Super-Mom would be an understatement. She was one of the most remarkable persons I've known, and for the last six years a cheerful presence in our office; a part of our NSP family. She was excited for us when we acquired the West Liberty Index in 2018, and stepped right up to bring those circulation records into our system with The NSP and the Wilton-Durant Advocate News.
Earlier this year, though, there were days she didn't feel well, and by September she was unable to come to work; a rare thing for someone with such energy. We knew something was wrong, but none of us could have imagined that she would pass to eternity at University Hospitals and Clinics the evening of Nov. 23.
We at The NSP are among many friends and neighbors who are stunned, numb, and left to pick up the pieces. The world needed Cindy, but some things are beyond our control. We move forward with faith, and remember the good times.
One of the good times was Jan. 15, when we invited CW5 Cory Crain to speak at Rotary. He appeared in full dress uniform and hit it out of the park with a most informative talk about the role of the Guard stateside and in international deployments.
Cindy was at Cory's side that day, and glowed with pride. It was a very good day. Her love and pride in Cory and his service to our country knew no limits. In turn, he said she was "a huge supporter for me through three deployments." (Stateside during the Iraq War, 2003; Iraq, 2010; and Kuwait, 2017.)
Rotarians put me on the spot for a comment about Cindy. Without hesitating, I said "Wonderful!"
And the people said, Amen.