JOHN CRICK

JOHN EDWARD CRICK John Edward Crick passed away peacefully on October 6, 2024, at the age of 86. Born on May 28, 1938, in Independence, Mo., John dedicated his life to both his craft and the people he cherished. John was a 1956 graduate of William Chrisman High School. He served in the U.S. Army for six months beginning on June 10, 1956, and then served in the reserves for six years. John met Shirley Kepley in 1955, introduced by John's sister Lillian, and they were married in 1957 at First Presbyterian Church. He joined the church in 1966 where he made many lifelong friends. John was known for his warm heart and vibrant personality. He possessed a kindness that left an imprint on everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. With a great sense of humor, he tried to bring a smile to faces, often delighting friends and family with his silly catchphrases. His ability to foster connections made him a cherished friend and a constant source of support. John was a carpenter and home builder. He began his career working as a rough-in carpenter for his brother-in-law, Raymond G. (Tommy) Allen. He formed his own rough-in crew some years later. In the evenings and weekends, he built cabinets. In the 1970s he became construction supervisor for L.C. Lester Construction building new homes primarily in the Blue Mills and Country Meadows subdivisions. In 1986 John and Shirley formed John Crick Construction Company and he designed and built custom-built homes until his retirement. He built about 125 homes and remodeled many more. He was a talented craftsman. John built every home he lived in with Shirley and built homes for each of his three sons, where they all still live. Because of his knowledge and skills as a craftsman, John served on the Trustees of First Presbyterian for many years and was almost always involved in a remodeling or repair project at the church. He was very proud to share his skills at the church. He built or remodeled homes for many church members including the pastors. He enjoyed helping others, particularly in lending a hand to his family with their projects or using his Bobcat to shovel driveways of his neighbors, some of whom thought the city was shoveling their drive. Outside of his professional pursuits, John had a keen interest in genealogy, dedicating much of his time to investigating and uncovering the history of his Crick ancestors and other families. His enthusiasm for sports was infectious; he was an early Chiefs season ticket holder and attended many Royals games as well as games of his sons and grandchildren. He loved watching college basketball and adopted Gonzaga basketball as a favorite team. John and Shirley shared a love of adventure, exploring new places together and creating beautiful memories on their yearly travels. They enjoyed trips to Table Rock Lake and Lake of the Ozarks, times filled with joy and collective laughter. As a parent, John taught his sons craft skills, coached and sponsored sports teams and was involved in Cub Scouts, where he cherished the bonds formed with both the Scouts and their families. John's passing is preceded by his parents, Thomas, and Ann (Watts) Crick; and his siblings, Elizabeth Ann Crick Goeking, Margaret L. Allen, Robert Crick, Lillian Alumbaugh, and Nancy Wood. His legacy lives on through his beloved wife of 66 wonderful years, Shirley Crick; his sons, Steve Crick (Bev), Tom Crick (Leisa), and John Crick (Robin); six grandchildren, Andrew Crick, Kirby Breslow, Jacob Crick, Dylan Crick, Delaney Crick and Jeremy Crick; as well as five great-grandchildren, Oliver Crick, Lillian Crick, Arlo Breslow, Silas Breslow, and Lola Breslow. A visitation in honor of John will take place on October 10, 2024, from 6 to 8 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church located at 100 N Pleasant St., Independence, MO 64050. The funeral service will be held the following day, October 11, 2024, at 10 ja.m. at the same location. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to First Presbyterian Church or St. Jude's.