Dereld Crawford

Dereld Gene Crawford, age 68, passed away Sunday, April 8, 2012, at the Claremore Veterans Center in Claremore, Oklahoma. Dereld was born in Hugo, Oklahoma, to Roscoe and Ruby (Howard) Crawford on November 4, 1943. He grew up in the Oklahoma panhandle and graduated from Hardesty High School in 1961. He continued his education at Panhandle State University, and received his Bachelors of Science degree in Business in 1966. That same year, Dereld married Barbara Jean Frantz on July 23. While at PSU, he and his roommates lived in a remodeled chicken house. He joined ROTC and upon graduation entered the United States Army going to transportation school in Virginia. He served his Country in Vietnam from 1967-1968; returning to the states as a Captain. After his Service in Vietnam, Dereld returned to PSU and obtained a teacher's certificate in Business, but never taught. He worked as an accountant for Harmon Construction Co. in Oklahoma City, and for Groendyke transport in Enid in 1969; returning to Military Service in the early Seventies. In 1975, Dereld moved back to Balko to pursue his love of horses. While in Balko, he started Crawford Thoroughbreds. He bred and raised thoroughbred race horses for over 30 years. Throughout those years, Dereld ran horses in Virginia, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas as well as Oklahoma. He served as a board member and President of Oklahoma Thoroughbred Association. In addition to racing horses, Dereld was an avid coffee shop participant in Balko, meeting his friends regularly at 10 and 3. He also built and ran the Pak-A-Snak convenience store in Hardesty, and he was co-owner of Guymon Econo Storage in Guymon. Having previously enjoyed his granddaughter's dance recitals and cheerleading, Dereld moved to Mounds in 2011 to be closer to his three grandsons; where he enjoyed ballgames and music programs. Dereld was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Dee Ann Moore. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Crawford, of Mounds, his daughters, Shelly Lyne Finney and her husband, Quint, of Hugoton, Kansas, and Marta Buchanan and her husband, Shayne, of Glenpool, his brother Skeeter Crawford, of Guymon, Oklahoma, his sisters Sherry Branecky of Del Norte, Colorado, and Beverly Klingaman and her husband, David of Chandler, Arizona, his loving grandchildren Reghan, Blayne, Bryce, and Braylin, along with other family members, friends, and acquaintances. Visitation will be 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. Thursday, April 12, 2012, at First Baptist Church in Balko, Oklahoma. Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, April 12, 2012, at Balko Baptist Church, Balko, Oklahoma. Reverend Odie Nunley and Reverend James Epp will officiate. Interment will follow at Hartville Cemetery, Hardesty, Oklahoma. Arrangements were entrusted to Daniel C. Schaudt of Schaudt's Glenpool Funeral Service & Cremation Care. Family and friends may view the obituary and send condolences to the family online at www.schaudtfuneralservice.com