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December 3, 1948 – April 17, 2025
Mary Elizabeth “Beth” Longley Cragen died on April 17, 2025, following a two-year battle with cancer. Beth died at home in Isle of Palms, South Carolina, with her husband, John Cragen, at her side.
Beth was born in Jersey City, NJ, to Dr. Stephen Brooks Longley (MHS Class of 1938) and Ada Laverne Shriver Longley. The family moved to Short Hills in the early 50’s, and in the next years Beth became a Brownie, then a Girl Scout and later volunteered in her church as an assistant student teacher for the younger children. In 1965, Beth displayed her artistic talents with paintings in the Young People’s Exhibit at the Paper Mill Playhouse Art Gallery in Millburn.
After graduating from Millburn High, Beth attended the University of Tulsa where she majored in Fine Arts and was a member of Phi Mu. She married Jackson Bowden, a Tulsa graduate student, in 1969 – on “Woodstock” weekend! She ultimately graduated from Newark College in 1972 earning both a Bachelor of Arts degree and a teaching certificate. They moved to Lake Forest, Illinois, where Beth changed directions, earned a realtor’s license and began what was to become a long-time, successful career in real estate. Sadly, Jackson died in 1992 at age 51. Beth remained in Illinois and continued her work as a realtor, managed several offices, and started teaching continuing education to realtors. She was recognized for milestone sales along the way, and she was a member of the National Association of Realtors for forty years until retiring in 2015.
On October 1, 2000, Beth was featured in a Chicago Tribune article, “Hour of Prayer May Be Minimum for Buying that Home." The story began with a woman who had put down a deposit on a home under construction. Later, she had doubts about the house and prayed for guidance. She decided to go see the house again but also followed a sign advertising an open house that Beth was hosting. The woman fell in love with Beth's house, saying that God had led her there and that Beth was the answer to her prayers. The article quoted Beth's reply: "If I was the answer to her prayers, then God definitely had a sense of humor." Subsequently, the woman was released from her original commitment, and she bought Beth's listing. Beth's wrap-up: “God must have loved [the buyer] very much. She still loves the place … and we have remained friends to this day.”
In February 2023, Beth married John P. Cragen in Charleston, South Carolina. In addition to her husband, Beth is survived by her daughter, Lacey Elizabeth Bowden, and three grandchildren, Avery Elizabeth Hernandez, Christopher Brooks Hernandez, and Ethan Alexander Hernandez.
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Chicago Tribune, (IL), “Adding Up the Ads” Fri. 15 Jun 1990, section 8, page 5
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Paula Selby (Kavanaugh)
When my family moved from Ohio to New Jersey, in the middle of my sophomore year, Beth welcomed my family and me. We rode the same school bus, went to the same church, and listened to the same music. Beth loved listening to the Millburnaires!
After high school, my family moved to Lake Forest, Illinois.. Amazingly, Beth moved into the same community several years later! She was married and busy raising her family. Although some years would pass, we kept in touch throughout our lives. Beth was a passionate person who loved family, work, a beach and music. Although her first husband died unexpectedly at an early age, Beth carried on with her family and work. She didn't have time to complain and she kept positive attitude throughout the years.
Two years ago, Beth called and said that she was married to a wonderful man, John Cragen, who I had heard about for several years. She was so happy! Although Beth died too early, I believe that she died with a smile on her face with the contentment of a life well lived.
-Paula Selby Kavanaugh