Jerry Wayne Crowley

Jerry Wayne Crowley, passed away suddenly at home on Monday, October 3rd, 2022 surrounded by family. Funeral services will be on Saturday, October 8th, in Lubbock, Texas at Resthaven Funeral Home & Memorial Park. Visitation will be 9am. followed by the funeral service at 10am. Graveside service will be in Tulia, Texas at Rose Hill Cemetery at 12:45 pm. Following the graveside service there will be a gathering of family and friends at Central Church of Christ in Tulia, Texas.

Jerry was born on December 20, 1947, in Wichita Falls, Texas. He grew up and graduated from Monahans High School in 1966. He was a long-distance track runner and played saxophone in his high school big band. He attended West Texas University in Canyon, Texas. He married Dianne Tucker on December 22, 1967. He was a policeman in Tulia, Texas and then a highway patrolman for the Texas Department of Public Safety, stationed in El Paso, Texas. The only lottery he ever won was when his lucky number was drawn and he was drafted by the Army during the Vietnam War. He was stationed at Ft. Monmouth in New Jersey as a military policeman, later being stationed in Seoul, South Korea. They moved to Lubbock, Texas in 1973.

He was a video game enthusiast (his favorite was the Texan pinball machine, and he built his children a ColecoVision) and arcade entrepreneur (he founded the one-and-only Fat Franks Arcade). He also loved bicycling. He and his son John rode the “Hotter’N Hell 100” bike race in Wichita Falls. He loved being known as the fat man on the bicycle who would leave everyone in the dirt!

He had an incredible work ethic, unmatchable integrity, and a smile or a funny quip for everyone.

He is survived by his wife Dianne; his daughter Kim Kitten and her son Trevor Wayne, his two sons John Crowley and Chris Crowley and Chris’ children Liviu, Emil, Kristian, Kalee, and Jensen; his mother Doloros “Bobbye” Crowley; his brother Alan Dale Crowley and his wife Carrie and their children and grandchildren; his aunt Rosie Gonzales and uncle Richard O’Gorman; multiple nieces, nephews, and cousins; and his adopted families: Thu and Hien Dinh and their daughter Gracie; Indika and Indrika Wickramasinghe and their children Benadie and Yenula; Pinky Khatri and her family; and numerous students from around the world who called him Grandpa and enriched his world. He would always say, “They thought we were helping them, but actually they brought so much joy into our lives – they were the ones blessing us.”

He will be dearly missed by many especially his family.

In lieu of flowers we ask that you make donations to the American Diabetes Association in his name, or to the charity of your choice!