Cecil Ray Crawley was born in Mount Pleasant, Texas on March 3, 1927. He grew up on his family’s farm in a home that taught him about hard work, living humbly, and most importantly loving Jesus. Even as a young boy, he was so full of life and always had a little spunk. He was deemed the ‘Jokester’ in his school yearbook and could light up any room he was in. People were always drawn to him, and that trait never faded. At 17 years old, he joined the Navy but while still in basic training, World War 2 ended, and they gave him a choice to get out. He took the opportunity and went back to Mt Pleasant and started working at an oil company as a lab tech. He went to the recruitment office one day to see what the Army was all about and that led to the next 20 years of his life. They put him in the EPS (enlisted personnel specialist) program and fast tracked him as a first-class recruit assigned to the chemical corps. He spent time in the Bahamas doing classified chemical testing, traveled to South Korea and Germany and rose in the ranks until he was appointed as Sergeant Major for Chemical Weapons. He was always filled with such pride for our Country and a carried strength that was part of his very core.
While he was stationed at the Pine Bluff Arsenal, that’s where his true life started. He met the love of his life, Ella Jane England. She was the beautiful telephone operator that stole his heart. She became the love of his life and would be his partner for the next 62 years. The two married in June of 1950 and in the years to follow gave birth to a baby girl, Barbara Ann. He was deployed to Germany in 1952 and Janie, with a 6-month-old on her hip, followed him there because of their love for each other. This enabled them to visit places like Germany, Paris, Switzerland, and Italy which was a special time in their young marriage. In 1955, they moved back to the states and began to make a home for their soon to be growing family. In 1957, Jimmy Dale was born, and they brought him home to Howard Drive in Pine Bluff. They made roots in this town and raised their children in a loving home.
The only thing that could take them away from this network of family and friends to the big city of Houston came wrapped in a pink blanket—the birth of their first granddaughter. Lauren Michelle was born in 1986 and Cecil soon came to Houston to visit his precious granddaughter. After about six months of him traveling back and forth between Houston and Pine Bluff, he and his wife Janie decided that it was time for them to move to Houston. From that moment he was no longer Cecil, but Papaw. He took the roll of Papaw more importantly than any other titles he had been given. His papaw role was expanded in 1988 by the arrival of Kristen Marie and again in 1994 with me. He showed to up to every moment big and small for us. He was a hero in their eyes and he deserved every definition of that word. He was a humble man who selflessly gave everything he had to give. He spent countless hours playing school with Lauren, pushing Kristen in the swing in the backyard, and going on bike rides with me. He filled his family full of special memories and moments where we all felt so loved and cared for.
He always remained a guidepost, friend, confidant, and helper to his son Jim. Whether Jim needed help painting Bay Area Church, working the fields up in Crockett, or as simple as a Home Depot run, he was always there. He was never too busy or didn’t have time for not only his family but also his neighbors, friends, coworkers at HEB, librarians and anyone else he encountered. He was a light that shined no matter how dark the day was.
Above all else, he devoted his life to Jesus. To sharing God’s unending love with everyone he met. He spent his final days leading a revival at Methodist hospital telling every doctor, nurse, and technician about his Creator. He loved and prayed over those around him even when his body was failing and in pain. In the early morning hours on December 6th, 2022, he left this temporal home and went to his new home to spend eternity with his Lord and Savior. He traded his old rugged cross he carried so closely with him his entire life for a Crown.
He devoted his life to his home, family, church and for the past 36 years, his 3 granddaughters. He has left behind his brother Charles, son Jim and his Debbie, granddaughters Lauren, Kristen and Morgan, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and countless friends.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ForestParkEast-FHC.com for the Crawley family.
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