Richard Crawley
Richard Walter Crawley died peacefully on June 12, 2018, at the age of 73. Richard was born in Goose Creek, Texas on April 10, 1945 to Raymond and Rita Crawley. He loved basketball and excelled at the sport while at Pasadena High School and San Jacinto College. In his 35 year career at the Lubrizol Corporation he was a chemical operator, foreman and superintendent of Facilities Protection. He was very active in emergency response serving as the Fire Chief at Lubrizol and as the chairman in 1984 of Channel Industries Mutual Aid (CIMA, Houston ship channel emergency response group) and championed many systems still in use today. Richard enjoyed the outdoors and spent many years shrimping with his dad on the bay and camping and fishing with family and friends. As a member of St. John’s United Methodist Church, Richard found a second home and worked with this family to serve God and his community.
Most of all Richard was a family man who loved his wife, children and his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He coached his own sons and many other Deer Park youth in football, baseball and basketball. Richard is preceded in death by his parents and survived by his beloved wife, Peggy Crawley, sons Richard Crawley (Wendy), Russell Crawley, Sr. (LaRonna), Randall Crawley (Brandi), and Ryan Crawley (Stacy). Also left to mourn his passing are grandchildren and great-grandchildren Danielle, Lauren, Lacey, Russell, Jr., Robbie Sr., Cort, Jake, Alyssa, Amber, Reese, Chloe, Harley, Sophia, Kynzlee, Rustin, Kyndall, Robert and Robbie, Jr.
A memorial service will be held at St. John’s United Methodist Church, 501 S. Alexander Drive, Baytown, TX 77520, on Saturday, June 23, at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Richard’s name to St. John’s United Methodist Church or to the Houston Area Parkinson’s Society.
Peggy,
I know you are in amazing hands with your family. I hope I can also offer my love and support to you as you have always graciously done for me and for others. I know this is a difficult time. I am truly sorry for your loss. Richard was a good man.
I will never forget, his giving me a hug, when you were awarded the MEIT Reg Machel Award. He was kind and caring, as are you. You are such a dedicated individual and have suffered a great loss. My prayers are with you and your family. Stay strong and know that God does not make mistakes.
Patsy Finch
Peggy, I am so sorry for your loss. I know that you love Richard, deeply. You had so many great adventures, including the African safari. I hope you find comfort in your memories until you are reunited.
Sincere condolences go out to the family. Please find comfort and hope in the guarantee that soon death will be no more (Rev. 21: 3, 4) and the exciting promise that those we have lost will be reunited with us again (Acts 24:15 & Psalms 37:29).
I am so very sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time.
Peggy, I’m so sorry for your loss and I hope your loving memories will bring you comfort during this difficult time. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Love you lots, Rosa Mae
Peggy, we send our sincerest condolences on Richard’s passing. I know how much you loved each other. It is said that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation. So, in this hour of separation, there is also an understanding of how deep your love is for Richard. We will keep you, Richard, and your family in our prayers.
Based on Richard’s love of the sea, I have posted a poem below:
Sea Fever
John Masefield
I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking,
I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.
Peggy,
I am so sorry for your loss. Richard and I were very good friends during our time
at Lubrizol. Unfortunately we didn’t see much of each other after our retirements.
I hope you know that you and your family will always be in our thoughts and
prayers.
Garry Anspach
Danny and I were sorry to hear of Richard’s passing. We are sending prayers for peace and comfort. As I told you, I have alerted your old neighbors via our Nextdoor app and they have posted their sorrows for your loss also. If you need anything from the church, please let me know and I’ll handle it.
Dear Crawley family.
It was my pleasure meeting and working with Richard. I fondly remember him telling me to be safe, when I told him I was leaving for the night.
My fondest memory is of him telling me he wanted to get outside. I would get him up and in his wheelchair, and we would go for a walk around the building. We would greet workers and other residents along the way. Sometimes on a cool day we would stop in a sunny spot and enjoy the warmth, and on hot days we would find a cool spot to rest.
I will miss you Richard.
God’s blessing on you all.
Sam (CNA)