Funeral services for Richard Earl ¨Dick Crawford, age 74, of Calhoun, LA will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 1st at First Baptist Church, Calhoun, LA. The service will be officiated by Rev. Neil Everett and Rev. Werner Aswell. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home. Visitation will be held Monday, January 31st from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Mr. Crawford was born on May 28th, 1936 to Bertie Aswell Crawford and William Crawford. He passed away peacefully in his home in Calhoun, Louisiana on Saturday January 29th, surrounded by family and friends, after a nine month battle with liver cancer. Mr. Crawford graduated from Calhoun High School and earned a BS in Civil Engineering from Louisiana Tech University. After graduation he proudly served in the United States Air Force, at which time he received a degree in meteorology from Penn State University. Following his service in the Air Force he worked for many years in the offshore oil industry where he managed numerous installation projects for Chevron and Signal Oil Companies until 1969. He then had a long and accomplished career as a Civil Engineer in the paper industry retiring from Graphic Packaging Inc. in West Monroe, Louisiana in 2001. Additionally, Mr. Crawford was a licensed land surveyor. Mr. Crawford was a devoted family man and was an active church member in the various communities where he lived. In Lafayette, LA he and his wife were charter members of East Bayou Baptist Church where he helped design their first sanctuary. He was a deacon and a long time member of First Baptist Church, Calhoun. Mr. Crawford, along with his wife, Clay, received the Wellspring≠s ¨Celebrate the Family Award in June of 2007 recognizing their service to the community and dedication to family. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford volunteered with Rolling Hills Ministry after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, manning shower units for disaster relief. They enjoyed traveling and camping with friends. Mr. Crawford liked all kinds of hunting, but fishing was his hobby of choice. He often used opportunities in the outdoors to teach his values and faith to his children and grandchildren. He was passionate about education and took great pleasure in knowing that all four of his daughters earned college degrees. Richard enjoyed many successes in life; however, he measured his success in people≠s lives. His greatest treasure was his family and there he made his greatest investment, always available, always encouraging, always steadfast, always giving. His moral compass was fixed, it pointed to the cross, he never waivered. He will be forever missed. Richard is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 52 years, Clay Fisher Crawford; and his brother, William M. Crawford, of Florida. Richard and Clay had four daughters Paula R. Crawford of Monroe; Sandy Allen and husband D. J. of Ruston; Carol Holcomb and husband David of Belton, Texas; Alison Trimble and husband Joe of Nairobi, Kenya. Nine grandchildren: Kyle Allen and wife Jennifer; K.C. Allen, Kramer Allen, Benton Holcomb, Andrew Holcomb, Daniel Holcomb, Mary Trimble, William Trimble, and Suzanna Trimble; and one great grandchild, Carter Allen; nephews and neices Ronnie Fretwell and wife Bobbie; Matt Fisher and wife Mandy; Erin Fisher; Josh Fisher and wife Melissa; Barbara Crawford, Darryl Crawford; Debra Crawford-Tracy and husband Mark; as well as many great nieces and nephews. Mr. Crawford was preceded in death by his father, William Crawford, mother Bertie Aswell Crawford, step-father Knap ¨Dick Crawford, his sister Charlotte Crawford Moore, and grand-daughter Kayla Allen. Pallbearers will be Kyle Allen, K.C. Allen, Kramer Allen, Buddy Fisher, Matt Fisher, Josh Fisher and Ronnie Fretwell. Honorary pallbearers will be Thomas Wilder, Joseph F. Trimble, Jr., Joseph F. Trimble, Sr., Jimmy Holton, John Paul Rieger, and Members of the King≠s Men Sunday School Class of First Baptist Church of Calhoun. The family wishes to express their deepest appreciation to the members of First Baptist Church, Calhoun for their outpouring of love and support, to the compassionate staff of Hospice Compassas, Monroe, and for the thoughtful care of the Tender Touch Caregiving Service. Finally, words cannot possibly express the depth of our appreciation to our life long and devoted friends, Thomas and Beth Wilder and family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Calhoun Building Fund, 2981 Highway 80 West, Calhoun, LA 71225-7909. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com