It is with great sadness the family of the late C. Ray Crawford, 77, of Pumping Station Rd. Cumberland County, announce his passing on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre, Upper Nappan, NS.
Born in Pointe du Chene, NB, he was a son of the late Lena Mary (Gallant) and William Courtney Crawford. In his younger years, Ray worked for the grocers in Sackville, NB delivering by horse and wagon and worked on many farms in the Sackville, NB area. He also worked in construction and for the Fawcett Foundry in Sackville. Ray worked for a number of years at General Motors of Canada in Oshawa, ON and even worked on building the extension of the GM plant in the 1950's. He returned home and was employed with Robb Engineering where he designed the turn table which enabled them to turn the massive beams and rail cars in the shop. He was employed as a first class welder which involved him working on such projects as the Halifax/Dartmouth bridge, Newcastle/Chatham bridge and several in Cape Breton as well as the Amherst Stadium. While working at Robbs, Ray then started his own construction/home renovation company, "Ray Crawford Roofing and Siding Ltd" in Amherst employing up to 35 - 40 men, do his own estimates as well as working with the crews. He also loaded his own trucks at night to prepare the crews for the next day. Ray also had his own country and western band in the 50's and 60's and enjoyed singing and playing his guitar. He was very involved in tug of war for many years starting teams in Pointe du Bute, Aulac, Sackville and Amherst. He was also very active in local hockey and managed the Amherst Junior Ramblers, he was the first to import players out of the province. He also supported minor leagues and broom ball. Ray took great pride in showing his Canadian Bred Labrador Retreiver with his father in law Johnson L. Ripley. He was also an avid hunter, fisherman, boater and enjoyed snowmobiling and flying. He was know for his great strength and would often lift a counter weight for a crane weighing 565 lbs. just for kicks. In his spare time he peddled meat from Amherst to Advocate, sold electroluxes from door to door. He also was a "special" on both Sackville and Amherst police forces. He constructed and managed, "Ray Crawford Plaza" on South Albion St., Amherst and was also recognized around the Maritime for his prize winning Belgian teams of horses. Ray is survived by one daughter Lynn Ann Crawford of Amherst and son Alan (Wendy) Crawford of Pumping Station Rd, their mother Joyce M. (Ripley) Crawford of Amherst, grandchildren Johnny-Ray Crawford of Vernon, BC, Jennie and Julia Crawford of Pumping Station Rd., sisters Deloris (Wilson) Hare of Newcastle, NB and Mable (Robert) Dionne of Amherst and several nieces, nephews and cousins across Canada. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by sisters Doris Dejardins, Joan Esposito and Sheila Gauthier; two brothers Joseph and Ralph.
Funeral service was held on Sunday, March 28, 2010 at 2 p.m. from Campbell's Funeral Home, Amherst, NS with Rev. Susan Estabrooks officiating. Interment took take place in the Fernwood Cemetery, Port Elgin, NB. Memorial donations in Ray's memory may be to the charity of your choice. www.campbells-amherst.ca