James Howard Crews

James Howard Crews was born April 4th, 1938, in Arcadia, Florida, to Byron and Helen Lindsay Crews. He grew up in the Arcadia, Florida, area attending DeSoto County Schools. He participated in Football, Track, and Bull Riding during that time. It was at one of his football practices that he was introduced to the love of his life, Marianne Copeland. He and Marianne eloped on July 14, 1957, and after they married, they shared a family of 4 and a lifetime of memories spanning approximately 68 years. James worked from the age of 13, until his retirement at 62. His work included: various odd jobs, working as a Dairy Farm hand, which eventually led to him owning and running his own dairy farm in Humansville, Missouri. He later worked at American Trailers in Oklahoma City and Superior Hard Surfacing in Tulsa, OK. James was an avid OU Sooner fan, loved gardening, horseback riding, raising horses, and tinkering in his shop. He loved the outdoors, hunting, and he always had some home, barn, shed, or farming project going or being planned. James almost always had cookies in the cookie jar. He loved sitting on his deck out back and watching wildlife. Most of all, he loved his grandkids whom he prayed for every night. His TV preferences were old westerns like Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and Little House on the Prairie. James was a serious jokester always thinkin' of a way to get a smile out of ya and lighten things up.

James was a man of simple faith in God and Christ. He came to faith in Christ and was baptized as a young man. He taught Sunday School in Florida and Missouri and maintained a habit of attending church on most Sundays. Even when homebound, he watched online.

James passed away Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at his home in Osage, Oklahoma.

James is survived by:

His wife Marianne of nearly 68 years,

Sons: Jim Crews and his wife Mahshid, of Plano, Texas

Rick Crews and his wife Barb, of Humansville, Missouri

Daughters: Lila Anne McDevitt and her husband Garry, of Prue, Oklahoma

Jeannine Henderson and her husband Scott, of Bixby, Oklahoma

Brothers: Johnny Crews, and Byron Crews

Sisters: Peggy Hallman and Mable Zorn

10 Grandkids: Sara, Lacey, Levi, Deidra, Cole, Matthew, Lydia, Kayley, Dylan, and Gracie

9 Great grandkids: Kacen, Karsen, Addisyn, Braxton, Averi, Ainsley, Riley, and two which are on the way.

He was preceded in death by: His parents, Byron and Helen Crews

Siblings: Thomas, Thelma, Margie, Loraine, and Louise.

James loved his family and friends and will be dearly missed by everyone who knew him.