Friday, December 14th, 2018
Aleene Cromwell
Surrounded by her husband, children, and grandchildren, Aleene Chloe (Parker) Cromwell passed away at age 70 on the evening of Tuesday December 11, 2018 in the comfort of the home that her father built for her.
She was the owner of The Moc Shoppe and Act-1 Realty and a dedicated and long-standing member of the East Main Street Church of Christ, where she ruled the church kitchen and shared her beautiful singing voice each week.
She was a leader in a variety of community organizations, including the Republican Women's Club, the Business and Professional Women's Club, the Darke County Board of Realtors, and the Darke County Chamber of Commerce where she served on the Agriculture Committee. Her tent at The Great Darke County Fair was an institution with hundreds of fair-goers stopping by each year for moccasins, belts, and the best-priced pop on the fairgrounds.
Aleene loved her farm dogs, cats, donkey, and horses, many of which she rescued, and was a member of the Appaloosa Horse Club for many years.
With a constant pen behind her right ear and a camera bag at the ready to cover traffic accidents, local and national elections, agricultural news, and fair exhibitors, Aleene began her first career as a reporter at the The Daily Standard in Celina, Ohio, where she graduated from high school.
She was the Farm Editor at The Daily Advocate in Greenville, Ohio, and wrote stories for the Dayton Daily News. She won the Ohio Associated Press Award for Best Breaking News Under 25,000 Circulation in 1979 while working at the Greenville Advocate. She covered election night results every year for The Associated Press.
Aleene started her real estate career with Leis Realty before beginning her own real estate company, Act-1 Realty, on Martin Street - before moving to her present location at 101 West Main on the circle.
Born on March 2, 1948 in Union City, Indiana, Aleene was one of four children of the late Arthur Blanchard Parker Sr. and Mary Jean (Gillespie) Parker.
Aleene, or "Tizzy" to her parents and siblings, is survived by her sister Bonnie (Dave) Breymeyer, and brothers Arthur (Nancy, deceased) Parker Jr. and Clark "Timer" Parker; her husband of 31 years, Tom Cromwell; one daughter Kim (Aaron) Tyo-Dickerson; three sons Tim (Deb) Tyo, Jim (Kendra) Tyo, and Caleb (Hannah) Cromwell; nine grandchildren Ashley (Anthony) Miller, Taylor, Tessa, Elizabeth, Taran, Tagesech, Tori, Abity, and Mackabee; two great-grandchildren Avery and Aaliyah; and well-loved nephews and nieces and their families.
Family and friends are invited to celebrate Aleene's life during her visitation on Sunday December 16 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Zechar Bailey Funeral Home in Greenville, Ohio. On Monday December 17 there will be the final visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m. and the funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. also at Zechar Bailey with EMCC Minister Jim Morehouse officiating, immediately followed by burial at Lisbon Cemetery in Union City, Indiana.
Online sympathies can be shared at www.zecharbailey.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Cancer Association of Darke County at cadcinfo.org/donate/.
