Theodore Eugene “Gene” Crabtree stepped into heaven’s glory on March 2, 2023. Born on July 28, 1931 to parents Theodore and Addie Crabtree in Mobile, Al, Gene attended Barton Academy and graduated from Murphy High School. He married Valrie Louise “Val” Mabrey on May 29, 1951, and had two children, Ted and Sandra. Gene joined the Air Force in July, 1951, was stationed in Holyoke, MA and Parks AFB in CA, and served in post World War 2 Allied Occupation in Japan, and in the Korean War in Pusan. Upon an honorary discharge from the Air Force and returning to Mobile, he worked Civil Service jobs at Brookley Field, and took business college classes. In 1964, he and Val started Crabtree & Associates, a bookkeeping and tax practice, and over the years earned the trust of their clients and many became life-long friends. He returned to college and graduated from Springhill College in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He and Val were faithful members of Crichton Assembly of God and Moffett Road Assembly of God (now Refuge Church of Mobile).
Gene was an accomplished guitarist, and loved music. He was a member of the local musicians union for many years and played with the best. His band, Mean Gene and the Vibrations, performed many gigs of various venues for several years. Later, Gene performed solo engagements – private parties, church functions, special union engagements. One he was most proud of and enjoyed greatly was entertaining the patrons on the Riverboat Dinner Cruise by the USS Alabama on Thursday and Saturday nights.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Addie Crabtree, brother James Clyde Crabtree, sister Mary Catherine (Cac) Powell, sister Christine Watson, and sister Voncille Morgan. He is survived by his wife, Valrie, son Theodore E. “Ted” Crabtree, Jr (Donna), daughter Sandra Lanier, sister Gladys Gaspard, grandchildren Mary Crabtree, Michael Crabtree (Dorothy Zela), Timothy Crabtree (Rebekah), Deborah Crabtree, Alex Lanier, Kasey Lanier, great-grandchildren Emory, Andrew, Ian, Sarah, and Naomi, and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
Gene’s memorial service will be held Saturday, March 11, 2023 at Refuge Church of Mobile, 6159 Moffett Road, Mobile, AL 36618. The family will receive friends and family from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Celebration of Life service will begin at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow in Wilmer Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Refuge Church Music Department; online www.refugemobile.com/give, by check (payable to Refuge Church), or Text2Give; enter any amount and ‘music’ to 84321 (ex. 25 music)
