C. DeWayne Crawford, age 92, of Springfield, Illinois, passed away peacefully on October 4,, 2024 at Concordia Village Care Center.
He was born in Guymon, Oklahoma on September 19, 1932, the son of Orley and Irene (Hughey) Crawford. The family lived almost twenty miles away in Hardesty, Oklahoma, where he was raised. The panhandle of Oklahoma has dry land farming, mainly of wheat. Besides farming, his family had cattle and raised calves. DeWayne was raised as a cowboy, complete with his trusty horse (Profit), hat, boots, belt, etc. and did a lot of calf roping at the local rodeo. He enjoyed playing basketball in high school and was an avid fisherman all his life.
His younger siblings were Jessie Ilene, husband Bob VanMeter – Orlan Devon (Corky), wife Mary Henderson – and Rex Allen, companion Marilyn Thomas.
Preceding him in death are his parents, sister Ilene VanMeter, brother-in-law Bob VanMeter, and sister-in-law Mary Crawford.
In 1951, he moved to Stillwater to attend Oklahoma A & M College (now Oklahoma State University) for four years, majoring in Animal Husbandry and participating in the ROTC program. He was also taking a ballroom dancing class. When he was a sophomore, he met a freshman at the Valentine Dance, Carolyn Nash, who became his wife on December 18, 1954.
After graduating from college, as a second lieutenant, he entered officers training in Colombus, Georgia, followed by being stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. He spent his time in the Army infantry and was discharged as a 1st Lt in 1962.
After working as a County Agent in Waxahachie, Texas, he began working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, being stationed in Oklahoma City, Washington D.C., the supervisor in offices in Chicago, Springfield, IL, Indianapolis, IN and back to Springfield.
They joined a country/western dance class, competed in and won many competitions, taught for over thirty years, and became charter members of the Prairie Land Dance Club in Illiopolis, IL. He enjoyed being back in his western hat and boots. After retirement, their travels included a three-week mission trip to Russia, cruises, and many trips in their motor home, including twenty-four winters in Harlingen, Texas.
Survivors include his wife, Carolyn, and three sons: Dale (wife Pat) of Warrensburg, IL, Bret if Loami, IL, and Scot (wife Rhonda) of Chatham, IL. Also surviving are his eight grandchildren: Stacey (husband Bryan) Hanafin of LeRoy, IL, Cory (wife Stacey) Crawford of LeRoy, Il, Kelley (wife Samantha) Crawford of Forsyth, IL, Zac (wife Shareen) Crawford of Chatham, IL, and Hannah (husband Erik) Long of Springfield, IL, of whom he was so proud of. DeWayne was blessed with sixteen great grandchildren who also survived him, along with his brothers, Corky and Rex.
They were members of the IBT Sunday school class at the First United Methodist Church. After moving to Concordia Village, they attended services there.
Memorial Service: 1:00 pm, Friday, October 11, 2024 at Concordia Tree of Life Chapel at Concordia Lutheran Village with Chaplain Jeff Harter officiating. Continued fellowship and Hors d’oeuvres to follow until 4:00 pm.
Private family graveside services are being held at Oak Ridge Cemetery with military honors.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish, may direct memorial contributions to the Christ Care Fund or the Scholarship Fund at Concordia Village.
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