CRAWFORD, Merle E.

West Valley View, November 2, 2004 Merle E. Crawford, 96, formerly of Goodyear, died Oct. 26, 2004, at his Tucson home. Mr. Crawford was born Oct. 7, 1908, in Nodaway County, Mo. In 1938, he completed his bachelor’s degree in agriculture at the University of Missouri, Columbia. After teaching vocational agriculture in northwestern Missouri high schools, Crawford and his family moved to Arizona’s Verde Valley in 1947. Mr. Crawford started the vocational agriculture program at Cottonwood High School and continued it at Mingus Union High School, from which he retired after 41 years of teaching. The Crawfords then moved to Goodyear, where Mr. Crawford was active in Kiwanis Club of Litchfield, guiding its scholarship program for local high school graduates. Mr. Crawford is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joyce Holmes Crawford; two sons, Hal Crawford of Tucson and Kent Crawford of Goodyear; and five grandchildren. A service is planned, but not yet scheduled, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson. Memorials may be sent to the donor’s choice of educational or scholarship programs for young people. Messages may be sent care of Kent Crawford, 670 N. 161st Ave., Goodyear, AZ 85338