Farris Lee Crawford

Farris Lee Crawford, son of the late Alma Faye (Crawford) Crewse, was born on July 24, 1926 at Manes, Missouri and went to Heaven on January 10, 2013 at his residence near Mtn. Grove, Missouri. He was 86 years of age.

Farris grew up on a farm in Wright County, in the Manes Community and graduated from Mtn. Grove High School. He joined the United States Navy and served for two years. When he was discharged from the Navy, he began college, and this enabled him to teach in rural Missouri Schools.

On May 28, 1953, Farris was united in marriage to Clella P. Sails in Clever, Missouri. Three children were born to this union.

Farris worked as a dairy and beef farmer and his main work experience was in the field of elementary education. His first teaching experiences were in the following rural schools: Nation, Dawson, Pea Ridge, and Morning Sun. Other years as an Elementary classroom teacher were in Des Moines, Iowa and Baldwin, Missouri. Following this, he taught eighth grade American history in the Mtn. Grove High School. In 1967, he was employed as the Mtn. Grove Elementary Principal and served in this position for fifteen years. He later worked as an Elementary Principal in Siloam Springs, Arkansas and Melbourne, Arkansas. A total of over thirty-seven years were spent in the field of education.

Farris professed his faith in Christ and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Mtn. Grove. He served as the Chairman of Deacons for several years, and taught senior Men’s Sunday School class as long as his health permitted. As a member of the Gideons International, he helped with the local area distribution of Bibles and New Testaments to motels and elementary students.

As a young man, Farris enjoyed the sport of coon hunting. As years went by, this sport changed to raising horses and going on trail rides with friends. His favorite topics of conversation were the Bible, politics, school, and his youthful days.

Farris was preceded in death by his mother: Faye Crewse; and by a brother: Gene Crewse.

He is survived by his wife: Clella, of their home; two daughters: Rita Crawford of Bradenton, Florida, and Julie Crawford of Marlborough, Massachusetts; one son: Tommy Crawford and his wife, Lisa, of Mtn. Grove, Missouri; two grandchildren: Farris Lee Crawford, II, and Scarlett Autumn Crawford; one sister: Joyce Pope and her husband, Clifford, of Mtn. Grove, Missouri; two brothers: Leonard Crewse and his wife, Marietha, of Brentwood, Tennessee, and Jack Crewse and his wife, Naomi, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; a sister-in-law: Helen Crewse of Eagle, Idaho; eleven nieces and nephews; and other family, friends, church family and many former students and associates who will greatly miss him.

Visitation:
Tuesday, January 15, 2012 from 10:00 AM – 11:00AM at the First Baptist Church.

Memorial Contributions:
Gideons or Hospice Compasses c/o the funeral home.