David Wayne Crawford

David Wayne Crawford, 82, of Pampa, was called to his Heavenly home and reunited with his beloved wife Ella Mae “Tootsie”, on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.

Services will be at 10:00 AM on Monday, March 3, 2025 at Hobart Baptist Church with Pastor Mike Watson, pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Dumas, officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory.

David was born on May 11, 1942 in Eunice, New Mexico to James Thomas Crawford, Sr. and Goldie Marie Doty Crawford. The family lived at the number one Skelly Gas Plant until David was one month old. Then the family moved to what became known as the Skelly-Crawford Gas Plant, named after Bill Skelly and James Crawford, Sr. While living at the gas plant, David made many boyhood friends such as Ronald Hess, Ronnie Cade, Donald Denham, Roy Thurman, Otis Hassler, Don and Carol Essary, Kay Allen, Betty Rhoades, Jimmy Harris, Charles McCloud, Jerry Cook, Jerry Neeley, Horace Jay and Robert Preston, Charlie Farley, Ronnie and David Rhodes, Lee Otis Hassler, and Mack McCallister. David started attending school in Skellytown in 1948. He fondly remembered his first and second grade teacher, Miss Ruby Hill. David became a Christian at the age of nine years old, he was brought to the Lord by Rev. Young of the First Baptist Church in Skellytown. During grade school, David played football and ran track. The school didn’t have a football field, so they played in a pasture. Long before the helmets of today, they had to play with leather helmets. David graduated the eighth grade in 1956 with the help of his teacher, Mr. John Banks. He attended White Deer High School, where he also played football and ran track. David was a part of the 1958 Texas State Championship football team. That team was voted as the second-best high school football team of the century in 2000. David was also awarded first place, second place, and overall champion in cattle, hog, and sheep judging. He graduated from White Deer High School in 1960.

During junior high school David worked on the Hip-O Ranch for Bob and Guy Andis. He also worked for JE Carlson doing pipeline and booster station construction in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. He then attended Frank Phillips College. David worked for the White Deer Feed Store from 1961 to 1964. There he became well known to all of the farmers and ranchers in the area. He later left the feed store to work for Cabot in the machinery division. David worked there for six months before taking a vacation to see his brother, James Thomas Crawford, Jr. at his home in Bay City. David was offered a job at Celanese in Bay City while on vacation and started right away. He worked there from 1964 until 1972. While living in Bay City, David owned and operated three shrimp boats. He then moved to Freeport where he began working for AP Green Refractories where he rebuilt the struggling company. David later did the same with Schenectady Chemicals in Lake Jackson. While working at Schenectady Chemicals he attended night school at Brazosport Community College in Clute. He then moved back to Bay City where he started D&J Electric Supply, Matagorda Electrical Wholesale Supply, Crawford Electrical, and Crawford Refrigeration. David eventually transferred ownership of his businesses to his brother, James Thomas Crawford, Jr. 

David met the love of his life, Ella Mae “Tootsie” Bohuslav at a bohemian dance hall in 1974 and it was love at first sight. Later, while on a date with Tootsie, he told her he wanted to get married and so they did. David and Tootsie were married on July 20, 1974. Tootsie was a truly supportive wife, willing to follow David wherever they needed to go. They enjoyed hunting and fishing together.

They later moved to Laporte, and David began working for Brown and Root in Pasadena. While working for Brown and Root, David built the South Texas Chemical Plant. He then went to work for Ethel Gasoline Additive Company which then split into Albemarle Gas and Amaco Gas. David was transferred by Amaco Gas to Canadian in 1989. He moved to Pampa in 2000 where he worked for Deacon Electric and B&G Electric. While at B&G Electric, David worked side by side with the owners, Matt Hinton and his wife Katherine, two of his best friends. He also worked alongside many great electricians, like Shane Hendrickson and RJ Becco, he considers them some of his best friends. David later started the Buck Ridge Ranch in 2006. He named the ranch after the Buck Ridge in Colorado where his father would hunt. David was allowed to use the old Hip-O Ranch brand, formerly owned by Bob and Guy Andis, a great honor bestowed to him by Vera Lee Andis. He owned and operated the Buck Ridge Ranch until 2013. David retired from B&G Electric in April of 2020. During his retirement, David spent all of his time with Tootsie until her passing on May 16, 2021. He was a faithful, loving, and supportive husband.

David was a faithful member of Hobart Baptist Church, where he enjoyed hearing the word of God which enriched his salvation, given to him by God. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, doing puzzles, working in his garden, and helping the church and Jesus with the absentee list. He loved spending his time working for Jesus. 

David deeply missed his three brothers, Jimmy, G.B., and Kenneth. He also loved his younger brother, Roger Doyle. David and Roger Doyle were often mistaken for twins. He frequently reminisced of the good times they had together during their younger years. David was truly thankful for the influence his brothers had on his life and the fun they had together. They would regularly explore the pastures surrounding their home. The boys knew where the best swimming holes were and enjoyed picking plums and grapes together. They always knew where to find them. David and Roger Doyle spent most of their time together growing up outdoors. He enjoyed spending nights out under the stars with Roger Doyle, often falling asleep outside in the grass. David always said being out under the open sky reminded him of the great state of Texas, that they called home.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James Thomas Crawford, Sr. and Goldie Marie Doty Crawford; his wife, Ella Mae “Tootsie” Crawford; one daughter, Kathryn Anderson; one son-in-law, Wayne Anderson; three brothers, James Thomas Crawford, Jr., Golden Birch Crawford, and Kenneth Lee Crawford; one sister-in-law, Ellen Ann Crawford; one nephew, Randall Birch Crawford; eight of his best friends and football teammates, Jackie Burns, Ronnie Cade, Hershel and Tommy Powell, Bob McCreary, Jim Bob McKernan, Kelly Brown, Thomas Lester, Don Driskill, and Charles Jackson; his coaches, Otis Holliday, Sam Christy, and Bob Moore; and two dear friends and Highway Patrol Officers, Bob Love and Clarence Little.

David is survived by his daughter, Kenda DeLynne Crawford Beall and husband Douglas of Austin; four sons, Joseph Martin Frick and wife Tina, Charles Robert Frick and wife Sandy, Otto Frick, all of Markham, and Kendall Crawford of Houston; one brother, Roger Crawford and wife Linda of Pampa; two sisters-in-law, Betty Lou Crawford and Molly Jean Cazee, both who he affectionally referred to as Sis; best friends, Dr. Kamnani and Consuela Salazar Blanco and her husband Ben.

“I hope you have enjoyed my life for I have enjoyed yours, I will not pass this way again. Until we meet again in Heaven with Jesus, I will not say goodbye. I will be a seeing you again.” – David Crawford.