James Douglas Crawley

He was born in Hodge, Louisiana, on November 3, 1934, to Alvin John and Mattie Lou Crawley.

After marrying the love of his life, Margie, on December 18, 1954, and settling in Beach City, Doug operated Crawley’s Fishing Camp alongside his dad, A.J. and brother, Jerry. Crawley’s was a hot spot for many years on Trinity Bay. During this time, Doug would endure hurricanes, storms, and setbacks, but his greatest achievement would be the building and operating of his steel hull shrimp boat, the Triumph. He was an intelligent man and built systems that would aid in his shrimping business, from cooling towers to a transport system to get shrimp from his boat into a holding tank on land. He would build and help build shrimp boats, construct houses, boat lifts, and being the handyman, could fix anything that came his way. After the fishing camp was destroyed by Hurricane Alicia, Doug and his brother bought a transport truck and hit the road. He enjoyed the travel and meeting new people. He continued to operate the truck until he retired.

Music brought great joy in his life, he was blessed with the talents of singing and playing the guitar, which he used in church. From childhood through his last years, music jam sessions were his favorite hobby, and he especially cherished the ones with his brother, Jerry, and best friend Wayne Moses. An attribute Doug possessed was his love for others. Being a life-long Christian, he never hesitated to help when he could. He was a member of Victory Temple Church for 59 years and served as deacon for multiple decades. Doug loved his family above all else, they came first. He worked hard his entire life to provide and protect them. Loved and respected by those who knew him, Doug was a good and honorable man. He led by example and could be counted on in times of trouble.

He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son, Vernon, son-in-law, Jim Berger, and brother, Jerry Crawley. Survivors include his wife of 64 years Margie, daughters, Belinda (Ed) Robson, Tina (Richard) Epler, and son, Kevin, all of Beach City. Grandson, Buck (Karla) Smith of LaPorte, granddaughter, Meagan Neal, of Beach City, great-grandsons Jeremy, Hunter, Zachary, and great-granddaughter, Alyssa. Brother-in-law, Wilbert Weckwerth of Beach City, sister-in-law, Betty Cooke of Dayton, and his four-legged sidekick, Buster. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends. We are so thankful for the years we shared with him, the good we saw in him, and the love we received from him.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock until eight o’clock on Friday the 22nd of February in the chapel of Earthman Baytown Funeral Home, 3919 Garth Road in Baytown. The funeral service honoring James is to commence at ten o’clock on the 23rd of February at Victory Temple Church, 2211 N. Main Street, Baytown, Texas 77520, where Rev. Dr. Charles R. Kyle will officiate. Interment will follow at Earthman Memory Gardens Cemetery, 8624 Garth Road in Baytown.