Francis Graham Crawford's Obituary
Francis Graham Crawford, Jr., 94, of Wheaton, IL, formerly of Memphis, TN, passed away on Saturday, November 2, 2024. He was born on December 14, 1929, in Memphis, TN, to Francis Graham Crawford, Sr and Helen Spicer Crawford. Graham was married to his high school sweetheart, Doris Elaine Crawford (nee Wright), for 67 years before she preceded him in death in August of 2020.
Graham is survived by his only brother William Spicer (Sandy) Crawford (Collierville, TN) his 3 children: Margie (Keith) Anderson (Wheaton, IL); Susan (Jim) Tracey (Wheaton, IL); and Graham (Debbie) Crawford III (Marietta, GA); plus 12 grandchildren: Jennifer (William) Martinez, Michael (Maureen) Cassidy, Maureen (Tom) Ferraro, Jason Anderson, Chris (Kayla) Anderson, Amanda (Keenan) Stearley, Justin (Carrie) Tracey, Katharine (Matteo) Fracassi, Mack (Erica) Tracey, Graham (Rachel) Crawford IV, Jordan (Chelsea) Crawford, and Colleen (Andrew) Butturini; plus 21 great grandchildren.
Graham grew up in Memphis, TN and attended Christian Brothers High School, class of 1947. He went on to attend Louisiana State University and graduated with honors in May of 1951. Graham served in the US Air Force from 1951-1954 his active duty was at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska where he and Doris welcomed both of their daughters, Margie and Susan. After his honorable discharge in 1954, Graham began his 37-year career with Sears Roebuck and Company in Memphis, TN. His career with Sears involved multiple executive promotions and relocations to Chicago, IL (1963), Los Angeles, CA (1966), Chicago, IL (1968), Atlanta, GA (1980), and Chicago, IL (1989). Graham retired in 1990 and moved to their retirement dream home at The Landings at Skidaway Island in Savannah, GA where they lived until 2005 when they moved back to their hometown of Memphis, TN. Finally, in 2015 they moved to Lisle, IL to be closer to their two daughters Margie and Susan.
Graham was a devout Catholic and has offered years of stewardship and support as a lay minister, eucharistic minister, and lector to each of the Catholic Archdioceses that he and his wife Doris have been parishioners of. Graham was honored by Cardinal Thomas C. Collins in 2018 with the Serra Club Certificate of Excellence for his years of devotion and support of the Serra Clubs in Savannah, GA, Memphis, TN, and Chicago, IL.
Family was a large part of Graham’s life whether it was coaching youth sports or taking fishing trips with his son Graham. He enjoyed Dad’s Day activities at the University of IL with daughter, Susan and an RV trip in Alaska with daughter, Margie, son in law Keith and grandson Chris. He also spent countless hours with his grandchildren at his home on Skidaway Island, vacationing at Hilton Head, SC, golfing in Ireland or celebrating the magic of Christmas at Disney World.
When he wasn’t spending time with family, Graham enjoyed tying flies for his fishing trips and gifting many of his creations to his fishing buddies. He was also an avid golfer and had a Hole in One on March 19, 2002! He and Doris traveled to Europe numerous times, often enjoying those trips with several close friends.
In closing, the family requests that no flowers be sent, instead they would request donations in Graham’s memory to St. Patrick’s Residence, https://www.stpatricksresidence.org/donate-faith-based-charities-in-naperville-il/
The Visitation will be held on Monday, November 18 at Church of the Incarnation, 360 Bray Station Rd., Collierville, TN 38017 from 9:00AM to 10:00AM with the funeral Mass to be celebrated at 10:00AM. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38119.
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