Jim "Cricket" Crawley

James “Cricket” Monroe Crawley, son of Harley Jesse and Edna Mae (Young) Crawley, was born on September 19, 1957 in Audubon, Iowa, and died October 25, 2020 at his home in Hamlin, Iowa, at the age of 63 years, 1 month, and 6 days.

Jim was baptized and confirmed at the Brayton Lutheran Church in Brayton, Iowa. He attended school in Exira, Iowa and graduated with the Exira High School Class of 1977. Following graduation, Jim went to Wyoming to work in the oil fields for a few years before returning to Iowa to work as a carpenter with his dad. He also worked as a mechanic for several years with George’s Auto Electric and for Charlie Goeken before starting with the City of Audubon in 1982. Here, he worked with the Street Department, performing street and vehicle maintenance, working on water mains and treatment plants, along with various other work, until he retired in July 2017 due to health reasons.

Jim’s pride and joy was his family. With his first wife, Brenda Jorgenson, he welcomed two children: Jaime and Jarrod. With his second wife, Lisa Auten, his second son, Robert, joined the family. And with his third wife, Jodi Soll, he had two children, James and George, and gained two step-daughters, who he welcomed as his own: Tiffany and Tammy.

Cricket was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. He also served as a volunteer firefighter for the Audubon Fire Department for many years.

He was a true outdoors man. Cricket loved fishing, camping, and gardening. He frequently set his children on missions to pull weeds and called them “the best ho-ers around.” When he wasn’t physically outdoors, he was sitting inside with his binoculars watching the birds through the windows. He loved spending time with the grandkids fishing and instilling that same love of the outdoors in them.

Preceding Jim in death were his son, Kristopher “George” Crawley; his parents, Harley and Edna Crawley; his maternal grandparents, Roy and Ellen Young; his paternal grandparents, Jesse and Alta Crawley; and his special cousin, Tommy Young.

Survivors include his children: Jaime Crawley and significant other Shawn Knakmuhs, both of Des Moines, Iowa; Jarrod Crawley of North Carolina and his children, Kaylee and Aubree; Tiffany and husband Kevin Dau of Audubon, Iowa and their children, Katilyn, McKenzie, Jordyn, and Libby; Robert Crawley and significant other Jamie Clausen, both of Hamlin, Iowa; Tammy and husband Quint Phipps of Manning, Iowa and their children, Jayden, Norah, Mollie, Graham, and Heath; and James and wife Tabby Crawley of Audubon, Iowa and their children, Josh, Malikia, and RaeLee; his brothers and sisters: Pat and wife Bertha Crawley of Cumberland, Iowa; Annette and husband Steve Christensen of Audubon, Iowa; Allen and wife Debbie Crawley of Waynesville, Missouri; John and wife Becky Crawley of Burwell, Nebraska; and Brent and wife Bobbie Crawley of Glenwood, Iowa; his best friend, Jodi Soll of Audubon, Iowa; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

There will be an open visitation on Thursday, October 29, 2020, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa. A private family graveside service will take place at the Hamlin Lutheran Cemetery at a later date with Pastor Ben Winford officiating. Honorary bearers will be Jayden Phipps, Josh Crawley, Kaylee Crawley, Aubree Crawley, Katilyn Dau, McKenzie Dau, Jordyn Swagel, Libby Swagel, Norah Phipps, Mollie Phipps, Graham Phipps, Heath Phipps, Malikia Crawley, and RaeLee Crawley. The Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon is in charge of his arrangements.