Dominic Gardner Crawford passed away on February 28, 2021 at OHSU hospital in Portland, Oregon at age 65. He was born on August 30, 1955 at the USAF base in Furstenfeldbruk, Germany to Rexford (Rex) and Maryellen Crawford while Rex was serving in the US Air Force. Dominic was followed by brother David Crawford, also born in Germany. After the family moved back to Portland, Oregon brother Kevin Crawford and sister Ann Crawford were born.
Dominic attended St. Ann’s Catholic School for 1st through 3rd grade, then Lynch Terrace, then Centennial High School in Portland, Oregon. Dominic met his future wife and love of his life, Debra Asplund, while at Centennial High School and they graduated together in 1973. Dominic started working at Blitz Weinhard in 1972, and then took a leave from the Teamsters when he joined the US Air Force in 1975. He and Debra were married in May, 1976, and they moved to Sacramento, California where Dominic was stationed and they enjoyed ski trips, vacationing to the California coast and other cities around the state for dog shows with their beloved Irish Setter, Brandy. They bought and renovated their first home together in Rancho Cordova, and moved to Gresham, Oregon after Dominic’s service ended in 1979.
Dominic returned to working in the bottle shop at Blitz Weinhard, went to college on the GI bill to get his Associates Degree in Building Construction Technology at PCC Rock Creek and while Debra was working in banking and earning her degree, they remodeled their Gresham home, enjoyed ski trips, and being with family and friends. Dominic enjoyed deer and elk hunting with his family, skiing, and trips to the Oregon Coast where his parents grew up.
Dominic and Debra raised two daughters, Jennifer and Rachel, and Dominic was a great father who participated and enjoyed all his daughter’s activities from dance recitals, Girl Scouts and cookie selling, volleyball games, and softball from T-ball to high school summer leagues. He enjoyed coaching the girls in softball and was a terrific, beloved coach and mentor to his daughters and other girls on his teams. His work ethic, kind and generous heart, and unselfish giver of his time wherever needed was his trademark to family and friends.
Dominic was an active remodeler and contractor and he and Debbie were involved in many home improvement projects over the years on their properties and doing work for other family and friends. They loved working together, building and making improvements to homes and Dominic started his construction and handyman business, Tanoak Properties to provide services to people. He always made friends of clients, other contractors and subcontractors in the process of doing his work, and could be depended on to finish a job the right way and do his best work. He always believed in leaving things better than he found them.
After the Blitz Weinhard plant closed, Dominic went to work for Roadway Express and got his CDL, then he retired from the Teamsters in 2004. Not one to remain idle, Dominic continued his remodeling and home project work. When a neighbor who was in a band called Johnny Limbo and the Lugnuts asked Dominic to help them drive the band’s gear truck since he had his CDL, Dominic agreed and he became a roady and manager for the crew to set up and take down the equipment at all the band’s concerts. The Limbo family loved him and Dominic enjoyed the concerts and interaction with all the band members and fans.
Dominic and Debra found the property of their dreams on the Oregon coast and bought their Waldport beach house in 2011. After much renovation and improvements they turned the place into their dream home and retired there full time in 2015. They enjoyed the spectacular ocean views from their deck, gardening and playing bocce ball in the court Dominic built in the front yard, being together and going on walks in the neighborhood and on the beach, and loved the neighbors and friends they made living in the Sandpiper community. Their beach house was a retreat for friends and family from out of town and they enjoyed having guests. Their final project was to finish their family room with an elevator to age in place and then travel as Dominic and Debbie always wanted. Sadly, it was while he and Debra were working together demolishing their old deck that Dominic had his accident that would claim his life much too soon, and leave his beloved wife and daughters devastated.
Dominic was preceded in death by his parents Rex and Maryellen Crawford. He is survived by his wife Debra, his daughters: Jennifer Crawford of Milwaukie, and Rachel (Crawford) Lakin and her husband Jared Lakin of Portland; granddaughter Destyni Moler of Milwaukie; the “Grandpuppies” Lilly, Shinobi, and Abby, along with his dog Blaze who will all miss playing with Dominic; brothers David Crawford of Wyoming, Kevin Crawford of Gresham, and sister Ann Crawford of Gresham.
Service attendance is restricted due to COVID-19. Attendance to services by invitation only.
To see the services live please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zR79FyYlEZQ on Saturday, April 10, 2021 at 10:00 AM.
"The family has requested that the video presentation you will see during the service, not be duplicated, copied or posted to any Facebook, Instagram or other social media outlets. This is a very personal and private presentation that the family has put together to share with you to honor Dominic. Please respect their wishes to not share in any way, shape or form to others. Thank you all for honoring them in doing this."
In lieu of flowers, we ask that our friends and family donate to any of the following:
Resolute Motorcycle Club, https://resolutemc.org/ is the link to the drug free alcohol free motorcycle club our son in law Jared helped start.
Habitat for Humanity for Lincoln County
The Salvation Army
A memorial of Dominic’s life is planned for April 10th at Gateway Little Chapel of the Chimes, more information to come.
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