Louise Crespi Benners departed this life unexpectedly on Friday evening. She was born in Atlanta, Ga., in 1938, and raised in Memphis, Tenn., by her father, Pietro Crespi. During World War II, she lived in the loving care of her godparents, Louise and Bob Morrow. Louise attended the Foxcroft School were she excelled in all things athletic.
From her hunter jumper days with her beloved horse Copper, to teaching dressage in Mexico City, to fox hunting and running the Memphis Pony Club, to her passion for Labrador retrievers, including owning and handling FC/AFC Electricity of Audlon and FC/AFC Trumarc's Raider, to her competitive shooting, Louise was a champion and inspired others with her zeal for life, sports and travel.
Louise cherished her summers in Sun Valley, Idaho, where she came to love fly fishing almost as much as competitive shooting. Her crowning achievement was becoming a world champion, medaling in the Helice Championship in Italy.
Louise was predeceased by her grandparents Pio Crespi and Louise Crespi, and by her parents, Pietro Crespi and Katherine Crespi Osborne. She is survived by her sons, William Davis Felder and his wife, Katharine, and Frederick Hagaman Benners Jr. and his wife, Allison, and by her four beloved grandsons.
Louise will be dearly missed by her family and a world of loving friends. A memorial service was held on Monday, Nov. 3, at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Episcopal School of Dallas, 4100 Merrell Rd., Dallas, Texas 75229, the Pietro Crespi Fund at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Attn: Eugene P. Frenkel M.D., 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75390 or a charity of your choice.
