Duane Elmer Crawford

Duane Crawford, 81, of Unionville, Mo passed away in his home, Sunday, January 15, 2017 after a year long battle with his health.

Duane Elmer Crawford was born February 17, 1935 on a farm in Washington County, IA near Keota, the oldest son of Omer and Viola Faye (Bond) Crawford who precede him in death. He attended one-room Tyrone School for eight years and graduated from Keota High School in May 1953. Besides participating in track, he played football and was named to the Ke-Wash Conference First Honor Team as a guard and linebacker during his senior year.

On June 2, 1953, Duane entered the United States Marine Corps as a private to fulfill the patriotic duty his Grandpa Bond, a Spanish American War veteran, had instilled in him. While in his beloved Corps, he served in many places and faced numerous challenges and responsibilities. The major military schools he attended were Army Airborne and Pathfinder Schools, Mountain Leadership and Survival Schools in the Sierra Mountains, Mines and Demolition School, NCO Leadership School and Amphibious Warfare School where he graduated in the top ten percent of 199 majors and captains from all branches of America’s military and some foreign countries.

Duane served his country for 26 years, retiring in 1979 with the rank of major. He spent 13 years as an enlisted and 13 as an officer. His military specialty was infantry. As a staff sergeant during the Vietnam War in 1966, he was given a battlefield commission to second lieutenant but never forgot his enlisted roots.

Upon returning from the war in late 1966, he met and soon married Kathryn “Kay” Sayres on June 6, 1967 in Centerville, Iowa. Daughter, Sandra, was joyfully welcomed to their union December 1967. Nothing in the Marine Corps or life could prepare Duane and Kay for the firestorm who was their daughter. She was their biggest challenge but also their proudest accomplishment.

After 26 years, many separations caused by military duties and countless days and nights of Kay worrying and waiting, they made Unionville, Mo their home. Kay, who was her husband’s inspiration, passed away on August 1, 2012.

Duane began his second tour in Vietnam in October, 1968 and was assigned duties as Commanding Officer of Mike Company, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines. In addition to his Navy and Marine Corps Parachute Badge, he consistently fired expert with rifles and pistols on many ranges. During his two tours in Vietnam, he was decorated with four Bronze Star Medals for Valor, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for Valor, Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry and lesser medals. He made many parachute jumps with the elite 1st Force Reconnaissance Company.

Throughout his service in peace and war, Duane held many leadership positions involving great responsibilities. His commitment to Marine Corps values and missions was well known throughout his life. In 1964, an infantry squad of 13 Marines he trained was named second best in the entire Marine Corps, losing the gold medal by one point. In 1975, another squad from the company he commanded received first place and the coveted gold medal in a Washington, D. C., ceremony. But, as was the case throughout his life, he was proud of those he directed but always gave credit to those below himself. He always remarked that of all his time in the Marines his three years training thousands of recruits at Parris Island, SC was his most satisfying and challenging of duties, but he thoroughly enjoyed Marine camaraderie wherever he served.

After retiring from the Marines in 1979, he attended Northeast Missouri State University, now Truman State University, and graduated cum laude in 1982 with a BA in Physical Education and Social Studies. In 1982, he was hired by Superintendent Marcus Hounsom to teach social studies and coach football and girls’ basketball at Putnam County High School. Working with teachers, coaches and the youth of Midget County became a delightful and memorable experience for him. He coached and taught for 25 years and after retiring from teaching, coached another 5 years.

Even before retiring from teaching and coaching, Duane was deeply engaged in free-lance writing for a hobby. With Kay doing the tedious tasks, he wrote countless articles for several newspapers and completed three books based on history. Together, they were actively involved in numerous community projects, including hosting the Vietnam Veterans Moving Memorial Wall, and building the Veterans Memorial and the Flight 11 Memorial. Besides being proud, humble, honest and hardworking, Duane and Kay were extremely generous with their time and made countless financial contributions to worthy community causes. For three years, they successfully operated the Lake Thunderhead Marina. Kay jokingly gave Duane these responsibilities: “You are to pump the gas, issue bait, clean dishes and stay away from customers.”

Duane is survived by his daughter Sandra, and his legacy grandson, Payne, whom he and Kay adored beyond measure. Also brothers William and wife Carolyn, Michael and wife Betty, sister Peggy and husband Richard, brother-in-law Wayne Sietman, sister-in-law Kathy Crawford, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents, brother Patrick, sister Betty and niece Debbie (Ackland) Sipple preceded him in death.

Duane was a lifetime member of the Marine Corps League, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Force Reconnaissance Association and American Legion. Locally, he was a Super Booster of the PC Midgets and member of both the Unionville Lions and Rotary Clubs. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Unionville.

Funeral services for Duane will be held at Playle, Jones and Collins Family Funeral Home in Unionville, MO with visitation Saturday, January 21 from 5 to 7 pm and service on Sunday, January 22 at 2 pm.

Memorials in lieu of flowers are suggested to the Putnam County Health Department, the Putnam County Senior Center or Hospice of Northeast Missouri and can be entrusted to Playle and Collins Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO 63565.