SAM CRAWLEY, 76

PUEBLO — Sam Crawley, 76, of Center, Colo., died Sunday, June 17, 2012 at the Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo.

He was born in Gretna, Pittsylvania County, Va. on Dec. 15, 1935 to Thomas and Ola Crawley, the second of 10 children. Known as “Biddy” to his siblings, Sam grew up helping to raise tobacco on a small family farm.

At the age of 22, Sam was drafted in the Army and, after boot camp in Fort Hood, Texas, was stationed at Fort Carson, Colo. It was there that he met his future wife, Judy Stoeber. They were married June 28, 1961, and moved to the Center area.

Sam worked for Harvey Twight at the Sinclair Filling Station in Center for the first two years of his married life and then took a job with the San Luis Valley Irrigation District. He had a knack for meeting people and found the perfect job for that when he began working for the Department of Motor Vehicles as a driver’s license examiner.

Sam enjoyed his job so much and came to know many San Luis Valley residents during his 13 years with the DMV. He left the DMV to work for Bud Worker at Bud’s Electric in the parts department for a short time, but a desire to own his own business led him to purchase a Hotsy dealership in 1981.

A short time later, he also purchased Silver Coin Vending. Sam spent the next 30 years working with the farmers and businessmen of the valley, meeting the public that he loved so much.

Sam was a true fix-it man. He could rebuild just about anything and worked on everything from bicycles to small engines. He loved children and softball and being with his wife and family. Sam was a great storyteller, enjoyed listening to country music and loved dancing around the dining room with his wife.

His son, Sammy Crawley; his parents, Thomas and Ola Crawley; and his sisters, Irene David and Gail Perkins, preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife, Judy; his daughters, Heidi (Brian) Stevenson of Center, Hollie (Boyd) Wheelwright of Del Norte, Colo., Christine (Rob) Bond of Monte Vista, Colo. and Michelle (Scott) Leckler of Center; his brothers, Russell (Peggy) Crawley of Chatham, VA, Ernest (Judie) Crawley of Madison, Ind., Danny (Martha) Crawley of Evington, Va.; his sisters, Christine (Dwight) Oakes of Gretna, Va., Shirleen (Donnie) Barley, Caroline (Scotty) Bailess and Jeanette (Mike) Bailess, all of Hurt, Va.; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A Vigil Service with Recitation of the Rosary and Remembrances will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 21 at St. Francis Jerome Catholic Church in Center. The Funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday, June 22 at the same church. Burial and full military honors will follow in the Monte Vista Cemetery.

Contributions are suggested to the Parkview Medical Center ICU in care of Rogers Family Mortuary, 404 Morris St., Monte Vista, CO 81144.