Obituary of Ray Crawford

Raymond Hamilton Crawford, age 82, went home to be with his Heavenly Father on December 8, 2021 at St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center in Twin Falls, Idaho due to complications from a heart procedure. Ray was born on July 27, 1939 to Edward and Nellie (Tedford) Crawford. Although he was raised in the Magic Valley, he spent many of his summers at his stepdad’s ranch in the Stanley Basin. He loved his time he spent at the ranch and working for his brother’s pack string in the Sawtooth’s. He enjoyed telling his favorite story, to the disbelief of his listeners, about how he would trail the horses used at the ranch from Twin Falls to Stanley on a three day journey up Hwy 93 often during rain or snowstorms. Ray attended and graduated from Twin Falls High School, class of 1958. Following high school he enrolled in Idaho State College graduating in 1961. In that same year he enlisted in the United States Air Force, for which he received an honorable discharge shortly after. He married the mother of his four children, Barbara Trimnell, in 1961. They later divorced but in 1982 he married his soul mate Betty Lou Hockett. Ray and Betty farmed south of Twin Falls on the Salmon Tract until he retired from farming in 1987. From there, Ray went to work for Monroc Concrete until he retired in 2000 to start his own business. In 2003, he decided to fully retire due to health reasons. After the passing of Betty in 2008, Ray married Vivian Bodenstab in 2010. He was a devoted member of the Fellowship Community Church in Filer, where he was loved by all. Ray was well known for being ornery. He enjoyed going to Norm's Cafe where he loved to tell the servers he was the boss and they would reply "No, you're just bossy!” It was often said that if Ray didn't give you a hard time then he probably didn't like you--he gave everyone a hard time. He had many hobbies including watching rodeo and bull riding on TV, hunting, fishing, RVing, woodworking, attending his grandchildren’s school activities, camping, and enjoying his best friend Mindee, his dog. He truly loved horses, and being around them was like a second nature to him. He loved the outdoors and his heart was always in the mountains. Ray was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He will be deeply missed by many. Ray is survived by his wife Vivian, his children Cyndi (Tom) Fields of Palo Cedro, California; Debbie Cvencek-DiFiore of Denver, Colorado; David (Stacy) Crawford of Depoe Bay, Oregon; and, Shannon (Kenny) Hodges of Twin Falls. In addition, he is also survived by one brother, Paul Crawford of Shoshone, Idaho, and best friend of 75 years Harold McCoy from Twin Falls. He’s also survived by his ten grandchildren: Ariana, Nigel (Keytauna), Savanna (Ben), Alexis (Alex), Stephen, Taylor, Zoe, Mya, Kali and Railey as well his five great-grandchildren: Hadessah, Aliah, Alaina, Jaiden and a grandson on the way. Ray is also survived by his two stepdaughters Corinna Long of Twin Falls and Kaleen Mikesell (Michael) of Medford, Oregon. Additionally, he is survived by six step grandchildren: Raechel, Lonnee, Candra (John), Tyler, Jordan, and Cody and two step great-grandchildren: Stella and Lindy. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, four sisters and his soul mate Betty. There will be a gathering held at Rosenau Funeral Home, 2826 Addison Ave East in Twin Falls from 7 to 8:30pm on December 16, 2021. The memorial service will be held at 11am at the Fellowship Community Church, 318 Union Ave in Filer, Idaho on Friday, December 17, 2021. Internment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be sent to the Fellowship Community Church in Filer, Idaho in Ray’s memory.