James Crews

James was born May 24, 1939 near Salado, Texas to William Cleveland and Ella V Haynes Crews. He attended and graduated from Salado High School in 1957. He later graduated from East Texas State College in Commerce with a Bachelor of Science degree. He went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Education with an Administrative Certification from Prairie View A&M.

On June 3, 1961 he married Wanda Ward of Granger, Texas. They moved to Bartlett in August 1961 where James accepted the position of Junior High Coach and teacher. While at Bartlett ISD for 33 years he coached football, basketball, and track. In 1963 and 1966 he coached his track teams to 2 Texas UIL State Championships. Most people who knew him would probably say that Mr. Crews lived by the creed he instilled in his track team; “A True Winner, can honestly say to his team, as well as to himself, “I’ve done my best.” In 1968 he became the principal of Bartlett High School and stayed in that capacity until his retirement in 1994. In 1995 James re-entered the teaching world and joined the faculty at the CCA facility in Bartlett where he taught Life Skills for 18 years. In 2013, he retired to be a full time “grandpa”.

James and Wanda joined the First Baptist Church upon moving to Bartlett in 1961 where he was a devoted member. He was ordained as a deacon in the church on April 6, 1966 and served as Chairman of the Deacons for many years, He also served as a youth Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Director, and became a trustee for the Walton Tithe Trust Fund of First Baptist Church.

James was preceded in death by his parents, W.C. and Ella V Crews; his in-laws, H.T. and Inez Ward; his sister and brother-in-law, Selma and Alvin Watson; his brothers, Clyde, Curtis and Floyd Crews; and his son, Kevin Ward Crews.

Survivors include his wife, Wanda Ward Crews of Bartlett; daughter, Christy and husband Stan Fischer of Georgetown; grandchildren, Andrea Kauitzsch of Belton (UMHB), Nik Fischer of Georgetown, Brittany Fischer and Chris Fischer of Pflugerville; Ted Crews of Conroe and Michelle Robertson of Holland; Brother, David Leo & wife Wilda Crews of Lancaster, Brother-in-law, H.T. and wife Barbara Ward of Salado, Sister-in-law, Nelda Crews of Sherman and numerous nieces and nephews.

A visitation for James will be held Wednesday evening June 21 from 6-8 pm at the Goodnight Funeral Chapel in Bartlett, Texas. Funeral services will be held Thursday morning, June 22nd, at 10:30 am at the First Baptist Church of Bartlett with Bro Kelly Boggs officiating. Burial will follow at the Granger City Cemetery.

Arrangements under the direction of Goodnight Funeral Home, Bartlett, TX.