Garold Gene Crawford

Gene Crawford, 76, of Unionville, MO, passed away at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City, KS, on Friday, September 1, 2017, after a six year battle with cancer and kidney failure.

Garold Gene Crawford was born in Wayne County, IA, on October 4, 1940, the son of Hadley and Lula (Brown) Crawford, who preceded him in death. Gene attended Lucerne, MO, grade school and Newtown High School. He married Shirley Jimerson in Unionville, MO, on September 3, 1961, and she survives him in Unionville.

Gene joined the National Guard in Centerville, IA, in 1959 and served his country for 9 ½ years in the Guard. He also worked for Lawrence Smith Trucking and then drove for Baxter Box out of Centerville. Gene then worked as a lineman for the city of Unionville for 18 years before taking a job with TMC trucking in Des Moines, where he worked for 8 years. He later drove for Premium Standard Farms before retiring. In retirement he drove a truck for Melvin Hines of M & M Trucking.

Gene was a good natured person with a good sense of humor. He liked to make up nicknames for friends and come up with funny sayings. He was a hard worker, but always made time for his family, to whom he was completely devoted. He enjoyed riding his Harley and he like to tinker with electronics and motors. Gene was known as “Geno” to his friends and he had lots of friends. Gene served on the Unionville City Council from the South Ward for two years. He was baptized at an early age at the Lucerne Methodist and later joined the Broadlawn Baptist Church in Unionville.

In addition to his wife, Gene is survived by their daughter, Brenda Cawley and husband Mark of Smithville, MO, and two grandsons, Tyler Cawley and his companion Amy Lake and Mitchell Cawley and his wife Sheana. He is also survived by a great granddaughter, Aubrey Jordynn Cawley as well as two sisters, Margaret Mullinger of Davenport, IA, and Beverly Johnston of Springfield, OH.

Gene was preceded in death by two brothers, Kenneth Crawford and Leland Crawford and two sisters, Dorothy Lawter and Berniece Dover.

Funeral services for Gene Crawford will be at Playle and Collins Family Funeral Home in Unionville, MO, at 1:00 pm on Thursday, September 7, 2017 with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will be at the Unionville Cemetery.

Memorial donations are suggested to the family and may be entrusted with Playle and Collins Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO 63565.