Nancy Rogers Crozier, sister of Mister Rogers, devoted life to Latrobe

Nancy Rogers “Laney” Crozier eschewed the spotlight that shone on her brother Fred Rogers, of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” fame, but she devoted her considerable energy to making her own neighborhood a better place.

Crozier spent her time helping her hometown of Latrobe.

“She brought a lot of energy into the room,” said Kathy Rafferty, board member for the Latrobe Art Center. “Everybody knew her, and she was smiling and talking to everybody all of the time, and I think the dedication to Latrobe was very visible.”

Mrs. Crozier co-founded the art center in 2002 with fellow artist Elizabeth “Libby” Ogden Hazlett.

There are two paintings that will never be removed from the art center gallery, Executive Director Lauren Buches said. One by Hazlett and a watercolor of a barn by Crozier.

Buches never met Crozier, but the legacy she built speaks for itself, she said.

“She left behind a community within the community of Latrobe,” Buches said. “That was really her biggest contribution.”

Nancy Rogers “Laney” Crozier, 80, of Latrobe died Sunday, March 24, 2019, at home. She was born Feb. 21, 1939, in Pittsburgh, daughter of the late James Hillis Rogers and Nancy McFeely Rogers.

She served as president of Rogers Enterprises Inc. and the McFeely-Rogers Foundation.

She served on numerous local boards, including the Adams Memorial Library, Valley School of Ligonier, Latrobe Area Hospital Charitable Foundation and Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra.

When she had a plan, she could make it happen, Rafferty said.

“I liked her. She was just a very sweet person, and spoke to you all the time,” Rafferty said.

Mrs. Crozier volunteered at Latrobe Area Hospital and was a member and elder of Latrobe Presbyterian Church.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Crozier was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel G. Crozier, and her brother, Fred McFeely Rogers.

She is survived by her two sons, Dr. Daniel G. Crozier Jr. of Winter Park, Fla., and Dr. James Brooks Crozier and his wife, Jennifer, of Salem, Va.; and two grandchildren.

Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in the Hartman-Graziano Funeral Home Inc., 1500 Ligonier St., Latrobe. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday in Unity Chapel, 114 Chapel Lane, Latrobe. Private interment will be in Unity Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Latrobe Presbyterian Church designated for the Unity Chapel Endowment Fund, 428 Main St., Latrobe, PA 15650, or to the Latrobe Art Center, 819 Ligonier St., Latrobe, PA 15650 or online at www.latrobeartcenter.org.