Dale Crawford

Dale Crawford, was a true lover of life. He felt life had provided him with so many wonderful gifts throughout his 87 years on this earth. Gifts like his beautiful wife JoAnn Crawford, extended family who loved and respected him, the ability to create art that enriched so many friends, family an acquaintances life’s over the years for them to enjoy day in and day out. Gardening talents that were dazzling with the variety of colorful flower arrangements JoAnn and he had created making their home the envy of the neighborhood. He passed July 25th peacefully and is survived by his lovely wife JoAnn Crawford and 6 children.

Dale, was born Dale Leigh Crawford in Rochester NY on December 25th 1930 an was the only son of Cecil McCray Crawford and Thelma Schuyler. Times were tough during the great depression then and his mother not being able to make ends meet had to choose to place him in a catholic orphanage in Santa Clara California from age 4 to 13 where he was finally rescued by his beloved grandmother and raised in Eugene Oregon until he joined the Navy in 1948. Dad lived out in the country with his grandmother on her farm during those years and attended Parkrose High. He told us of a little trouble he got into one where he had stayed out to late for his grandmothers liking. She went looking for dad and found him walking home on the long dirt road. She was so upset with him she ordered him to run the rest of the way home following closely behind him with her car. If he slowed down she reminded him how mad she was with a little bump of her bumper all the way to the farm, good memories.

Dale was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish an even was caught fishing during the birth of his daughter Torrece much to his wife’s dismay. He wasn’t happy about the timing the fish were biting that day. He also loved tearing up the dirt tracks with jeeps and motorcycles and once rode a Ducati 250 motorcycle all the way from Salem Oregon to Mexico and back with his old friend Larry Ped, last words dad said on that was “what was I thinking”.

His greatest passion besides his wife JoAnn was carving art from wood and stone. His art work included furniture, lamps, desk, signs, in addition to cribbage boards and a host of owls, cats, dogs, buzzards and all kinds of knick-knack’s that he’s sold throughout 40 years to provide for his family. His last 20 years have seen his craft refined to include his best work with carvings of magnificent eagle heads in stone, ivory, hardwoods, antlers, hippo femurs, and a multitude of products that have won him awards throughout the art world. His art has found its way into home’s like the actor Harrison Ford, businesses of Roger Clemens the baseball player as well as many others.

Dale is survived by his wife JoAnn Crawford, Sons; Steven, Michael, Gaelen, and Russ, Daughters; Wanda, Torrece, and Lisa, 19 Grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren as well as wonderful relatives, friends, and anyone who knew him.

All are welcome to Dale’s celebration of life at Restlawn Funeral Home, 201 Oak Grove Rd NW, Salem, Oregon on August 18th, 2018 at 1:00pm. www.restlawnfh.com . In lieu of flowers, bring stories, chocolate, and a wonderful sense of humor.