RICHARD CROWLEY

1944 - 2018

CROWLEY RICHARD ELMER CROWLEY (Age 73) Fairfax Educator Of Clovis, California passed away on February 28, 2018. Rich was born on May 18, 1944 in Idaho Falls, Idaho to Elmer Stanley Crowley and Annie Rigby Crowley. Raised in Idaho, Rich spent his formative years in Idaho Falls and Boise where he was involved in many activities. He played baseball as a young boy and could give you the stats on any team or player. He also played basketball and performed in several high school musicals and quartets. He was a student leader at Borah High School (Boise, Idaho) and also represented Borah High School at Boys State. He attended Boise State University and graduated from Idaho State University (ISU) with both a Bachelors and Masters Degrees. Rich became a rock n roller during his high school years and music became his passion. He was the lead singer of the Fabulous Chancellors, one of the preeminent rock n roll bands in the Northwest of the 1960s. During his time with the Chancellors, the band enjoyed remarkable success, including getting to see several of their songs rise to the top of the charts in the Boise valley, and show in the top ten in several Northwest markets. After moving the band to Pocatello, Idaho to complete his education at ISU, he met and married Andrea Neider on January 28, 1967 in the Idaho Falls Latter Day Saints (LDS) Temple. Rich began his career as an English teacher/counselor at Blackfoot High School in Blackfoot, Idaho. In 1970, they moved to Fairfax, Virginia where he was hired as the first out of state counselor to ever be hired in Fairfax County Public Schools in Fairfax, Virginia. He was soon named the Director of School Counseling at Herndon High School, then Fairfax High School, and later James W. Robinson Secondary school. Rich loved working in the public schools and treasured that time. He once described in song the students and fellow faculty members he worked with in the schools as "my people, my friends." He also composed and recoreded the song "I teach the children" which Fairfax county and many other school systems around the country used in video presentations. Rich was a master at keeping in touch with "former students" and other friends throughout his lifetime. He was awarded "Educator of the Year" on three separate occasions and became an often sought after speaker. He spoke at many graduation and baccalaureates ceremonies, counseling conferences around the state and the youth from his church often called on him to speak. Rich was a member of the LDS Church and served as the bishop of Fairfax Ward in Fairfax, Virginia. His experiences as a bishop gave him the opportunity to touch many lives. He cherished those years and especially loved those he served. Rich took early retirement at age 55, and began consulting throughout Virginia for counseling programs. Fairfax County brought him out of retirement to serve as the School Counseling Coordinator for the county. His counseling knowledge and expertise greatly impacted both teaching, faculty and students. Additionally, Rich taught graduate classes in counseling as an adjunct professor at George Mason University. Rich operated a very successful photography business for over three decades. After relocating to Culpeper, Virginia in 2007, Rich started a photo blog entitled: "Faces of Culpeper" and Facebook page. The blog and Facebook page had huge success with over 2,000 followers and over 300,000 hits. Rich also published a weekly article "Snapshots of Culpeper" in the newspaper, The Culpeper Times which gave Rich a completely new circle of friends. In fact Rich's circle of friends was ever expanding and once you were his friend, he never forgot about you and often made personal contact to just "check on a friend". In 2017 Rich and Andrea moved to Clovis, California. They quickly fell in love with the area and often talked about the Fresno/Clovis area being the best kept secret in California. Rich was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer Stanley Crowley and Annie Rigby Crowley, and is survived by his wife, Andrea Neider Crowley; and three sons, Matthew (Olivia) of Fairfax, VA, Jeremy of Fresno, CA and Andrew (Melanie) of Castle Rock, CO; as well as 10 grandchildren, Lauren, Tanner, Carsen, Charlotte, Emery, Audrey, Nathan, Jocelyn, Chase and Harper. He is also survived by his two brothers, Doug Crowley and Ken Crowley of Gaithersburg, MD; a sister, Annette Crowley Berger of Springville, Utah, and his many dear nieces and nephews. Funeral services for Rich will be at 11 a.m. on March 30, 2018 at the LDS Chapel, 342 West Nees, Clovis, CA. With an open house at the Crowley home on Thursday, March 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please download Rich's Album "Fabulous Chancellors Retrospective." https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/ fabchancellors. Music was such a big part of Rich's life, and he loved sharing it with everyone he knew. We can think of no better way to honor his legacy.Music was such a big part of Rich's life, and he loved sharing it with everyone he knew. We can think of no better way to honor his legacy.