Billie Roy Crawford
Billie (Bill) Roy Crawford, 81, passed away peacefully at home Jan. 2, 2020. He was born Aug. 9, 1938, in Osprey, Sarasota, Fla., to Roy Herbert and Wilma Marie McDonald Crawford.
Visitation will be a 9 a.m. followed by the funeral services at 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 10, at the Cooper First Ward Chapel, located at 650 S. Cooper Road in Chandler. Interment will follow at RV Mike Ramsay Memorial Cemetery in Snowflake.
Bill’s father died when he was only six years old. At 16, Bill came to Phoenix on his own where he found employment. Later he graduated from South Mountain High School where he excelled in football, basketball, baseball and track. In Phoenix, he was introduced to the gospel of Jesus Christ, gained a testimony and was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He married Marilyn Kay Chapman on Dec. 9, 1960, in the Mesa LDS Temple. They were blessed with two sons and two daughters, Steven, Kevin, Kimberle and Janene. He raised his family in Peoria. After retirement he and Marilyn moved to Heber/Overgaard and later to Snowflake. Marilyn passed away Aug. 31, 2009. A neighbor, Blaine Jarvis introduced Bill to a cousin, Kathryn Jarvis. They married on Sept. 10, 2011.
Bill was known for his kindness, generosity, hugs and a love for all. He was blessed with a natural athletic ability and loved sports of all kinds. He enjoyed golf, camping, fishing, traveling and gardening.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Marilyn and his sister, Zelma Bernice Choate.
He is survived by his wife, Kathryn of Chandler; and his children, Steven Ray of Phoenix, Kevin Lee (Jennifer) of Phoenix, Kimberle Ann (Vince) Thacker of Maricopa and Janene Renee (Rob) Gravitt of Fairview, Utah; 27 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by Kathryn’s four children, Todd, Travis, Justin and Elizabeth; siblings, Rosemary Marie Poindexter of Mountain Home, Ark., Barbara (Paul) Lignfelter of Reeds, Mo., Helen (Terry) Hall, of Carthage, Mo., William Goodnight and Benny Goodnight both of Reeds, Mo.; and several nieces and nephews.
Silver Creek Mortuary of Taylor handled the arrangements.
