Riley Ray Crawford, age 80, of Marshall, MO, died Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at his home.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Monday, February 8, at Campbell-Lewis Chapel in Marshall with William W. Harlow officiating. Burial, with military rites, will follow at Blue Lick Cemetery south of Marshall. Visitation will be 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to family choice and an online guestbook is available at www.campbell-lewis.com.
Born May 29, 1940 in Nelson, MO, he was the son of the late Orville Wingfield “Coondog” Crawford and Clara Etta Whitney Crawford. Riley lived in Saline County his entire life and served in the United Sates Army. On July 11, 2017 he married Alice Merriman who survives of the home. There wasn’t a lot that Riley hadn’t done through the years, he was the definition of a “jack of all trades.” He worked at Quinn Concrete, owned and operated his own sandblasting business, and for the last several years has hauled scrap metal. Riley was well known across the state for his singing and making music. He loved going to jam sessions, singing at dances, and playing his guitar. He attended Pentecostal churches most of his life and most recently was attending Marshall United Pentecostal Church.
In addition to his wife, Alice; he is survived by a daughter, Connie Irene Hardin of Jefferson City; a son, Larry Lee Crawford (Lettie) of Marshall; seven grandchildren: Karen Wilhite (Robert), William Hardin (Kyliegh), Lora Hardin, Ryan, Alyssa, Lolalou and Kaylee Crawford; eight great-grandchildren: Joseph, Matthew, Katherine, Carson, Addie, Kinliegh, Riley and Aniyah Louise; three sisters: Rosetta Wilson of Buffalo, Patsy Crawford of Springfield and Phyllis Crawford Kalthoff of Springfield; his bonus family from Alice, her children: Tammy Robinson (Gary), Connie Chavez, Joey Merriman and Annette Cobo; grandchildren: Donald, Devin, Dayton, Brandon, Jason, Manuel, Jessie, Amber, Celeste and Josh; great-grandchildren: Destiny, Lizzette, Alissa, Alex, Shain, Liam, Raven, Julyanna, Brandon, Allie, Donte, Riley, Kali, Zeke, Timmy, Alora and Brison; as well as nieces, nephews and other extended family.
Riley was met in Heaven by his parents; one son, David Ray Crawford; two sisters, Nancy Adkins and Janice Criswell; and Alice’s granddaughter, Brandy.