Meeker, Obituaries

Rod Crawford Obituary

Rod Crawford
Oct. 5, 1950 ~ Dec. 17, 2013

Rod CrawfordObituary: Rod Crawford
Rod Crawford, 63, passed away in his hometown of Meeker, Colo., on Dec. 17 after a six year battle with multiple myeloma; a journey that still allowed him to win numerous golf tournaments in between treatments.
Rod was born in Denver, Colo., Oct. 5, 1950, and his family relocated to Meeker in 1957 where he went on to become a star athlete for the Cowboys as a state runner-up in wrestling, state runner-up in football and star baseball player. Rod was graduated in 1968 and attended Mesa CC in Grand Junction receiving his AA degree and earning All-American honors on the wrestling team.
In 1972 he married Ellen Edwards and son Ron Kelly was born in 1974 and daughter Stacy in 1975; from 1970 on Rod worked and lived on his father’s ranch up the Strawberry Creek running cattle until 1987. During that time Rod held jobs at the Rio Blanco County and with the mine in Craig to add income for the family. During 1985-87, Rod served as the youth summer baseball coach for all the teams in Meeker.
Rod moved to Fort Collins to join long-time friend Dave King to start Triple Crown Sports as a national tournament company for baseball, basketball and softball where he ran tournaments in 1988 and 1989 and returned to Meeker in 1990 for one year to ranch. Dave called on Rod again to help him with a struggling young company in 1991 and Rod returned to stay for the next 23 years. He ran the shipping operations and warehouse duties throughout. Rod was the first member inducted into the Triple Crown Hall of Fame in 1998. Rod also coached the 1997 National Championship Boys 18’s Baseball Team at TC with nephew Donald on the roster.
Throughout his life Rod was a competitor at the highest levels. Rod played on the national level in softball for 30 years with the TC Teams throughout America. One of the top hitters and 3rd basemen around,he received many all-tournament selections. Rod was also a top town team basketball player in his 20s and then headed to golf. Many people know Rod from the golf course where he won numerous tournaments as a short game specialist. With his son Ron Kelly and nephew Donald in tow, Rod was a big game hunter and fishermen at the highest level.
In 2011,Rod moved back to his hometown of Meeker to help at the golf course, play golf and yell at and cheer for his beloved Rockies. He purchased a small home and was the consummate bachelor. He was able to knock down a big bucket list in life: See his son Ron Kelly’s wedding on his birthday this year, attend the 2010 College World Series and the 2013 MLB World Series between Boston and St. Louis at Fenway Park, attend the 2010 Senior PGA Championships and travel America.
Rod was a simple man of elegance; grumbling at co-workers when they needed it, smiling to get them moving, and humming to every country song he almostknew. Rod was a valued friend to many. Rod spent many hours entertaining Stacy and his grandchildren Troy and Robin on his lap and building toys.
He was preceded in death by his mother Ruth in 1980 and father Bob in 1994. He is survived by his pride and joy; son Ron Kelly Crawford and wife Miranda of Meeker and son Clay, Daughter Stacy Schauerhamer, husband Ben and grandchildren Robin and Troy of Fort Collins, Sister Sharon Griffin and husband Irven of Meeker, Nephew Don Blazon and wife Winter of Meeker and twins Jacob and Isabella, nephew Scott Blazon and wife Kelly and children Kinley and Chase of Tennessee, nieces Laura Blazon and children Courtney and Athena of Meeker and niece Renee Blazon and Shane and children Shelby and Gage of Meeker.
Services will be held in Meeker Saturday, Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. at the Fairfield Center at 200 Main Street. Donations can be sent to the Rod Crawford Memorial Fund at the Mountain Valley Bank in Meeker. A meal will be catered for all who come directly after the service at the Fairfield Center.

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  • It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
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  • It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
  • Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line.  The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale.
Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
  • Read part three of the story of M.T. Streeter in this week’s edition of History Lessons! Find it in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • Meeker FFA Chapter members competed at the District Leadership Development Event in Craig, Colorado, this month. Top row from left to right: Eva Scritchfield, Charlie Rogers, Alan Rivera, Trent Sanders, Koy Weber, Orion Musser, Said Rodriguez, Carlos Carrillo, Aidan Tapia, Hayden Garcia, Tristan Rollins, Mathew Willey, Quentin Simpson. Middle row: Sidney Keetch, Aurora Stallings, Sydnie Ross, Ava Nay, Lili Piper, Leah Wood. Bottom Row: Jaicee Simmons, Kailynn Watson, Cody Richardson, Kayla Castillo, Braydin Raley, Autumn Stallings, Aimee Shults, Emily Hamm. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
  • Choose-your-own-adventure…. Hear from our Editor in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
  • Black Sulphur Tavern held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their new business at 364 Seventh St. The space has been renovated with several TVs and games and provides a fun, friendly atmosphere to watch your favorite sports team and enjoy a burger and wings. Owners Frank Maestas and Pat Maestas are pictured with their new staff and Chamber of Commerce representatives Stephanie Hanson, Trudy Burri and Margie Joy. Follow Black Sulphur Tavern on Facebook. Their hours are Wednesday and Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday 3 p.m. - 1 a.m., Saturday 11-1 a.m., Sunday 11 a.m. to midnight.
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It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
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Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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It’s getting late, do you know where your kids are? Read all the Rio Happenings for this week in print or online at ht1885.com.
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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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4 days ago
View on Instagram |
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A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
A crew from the Flat Tops Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation joined forces last summer to remove obsolete fences to improve habitat for wildlife. Read the full story and the foundation’s update from their 30th Anniversary meeting in this week’s edition and online at ht1885.com.
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