Mary Lois (Carter) & Rev. Havis Allen Crawford
Cemetery Photo
Dibble Cemetery, Dibble, McClain Co. OK

© Jan Fendley

Obit for Havis
Jul 7, 1930 - Aug 10, 2014
Posted by: Ann Weber

 

Rev. Havis Allen Crawford, 84, of Bristol, VA, passed away Sunday, August 10, 2014, at his home.

He was born July 7, 1930, at Bradley, OK, to the late Rev. and Mrs. Earl Crawford.

Havis was a Holiness minister by calling and a carpenter by trade. He was saved by the grace of Jesus Christ on July 23, 1943, and was called to preach the Gospel at the age of 15. At 16, Havis married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Lois Carter. He went on to pastor various churches in six states during his lifetime as well as preaching and evangelizing to the lost and oppressed whenever and wherever the Lord led him.

In 1975, Havis moved to Virginia where he pastored Fletchers Chapel Pentecostal Holiness Church for over 19 years. While there, Havis was preceded in death by his first wife, Lois, and then married Dorothy “Dot” McCray in June 1976. Havis and Dot were married for 37 years until her death in July 2013. Havis had one daughter, Mary Ellen, by birth and gained four wonderful daughters; Sherie, Jackie, Charlotte and Doris by his marriage to Dot.

Since resigning from Fletchers Chapel in 1995, Havis had traveled extensively, preaching and teaching throughout the United States. He also authored two books and multiple shorter works to help spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and share his personal testimony with others. He was a “Father in the Lord”, a mentor and encourager to many and will be greatly missed.

Havis was preceded in death by his parents, Earl G. and Narciss Leah Corley Crawford; first and second wives, Lois Carter Crawford and Dorothy McCray Crawford; two daughters, Mary Ellen Crawford Dye and Charlotte Scalf; one son-in-law, Dowell Richardson; one brother, Eugene Crawford; and two sisters, Ethel Wilson and Earline Watkins.

Havis is survived by three daughters, Sherie Horton and husband Jim of Bluff City, TN, Jackie Richardson of Doran, VA, and Doris O’Quinn and husband Roger of Abingdon, VA; one son-in-law, Howard Dye and wife Sharon of Meadowview, VA; thirteen grandchildren, Beverly, Pete, Jason, Ryder, Deborah, Olivia, Israel, Derrick, Morrell, Morgan, Justin, Tyrel and Daniel; sixteen great grandchildren; two brothers, Kenneth Crawford and wife Brenda of Broken Arrow, OK, and Thomas Crawford and wife Karen of Chickasha, OK; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Services for Rev. Crawford will be conducted 7 p.m. Thursday, August 14, 2014, in Frost Funeral Home Chapel in Abingdon, Virginia, with Rev. Greg Harmon and Rev. Bill Cornn officiating. Visitation will be prior to services from 4 to 7 p.m.

Services will also be conducted 1 p.m. Saturday, August 16, at Trinity Holiness Church in Blanchard, OK, with Rev. Dale Crawford, Rev. Johnny Watkins, and Rev. Marcus Campbell officiating. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the church prior to services. Interment will follow at Dibble Cemetery in Dibble, OK. Grandsons and nephews will serve as pallbearers. Local arrangements are under the direction of Eisenhour Funeral Home of Blanchard. Online obituary and guestbook are available at www.eisenhourfh.com

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Frost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 948, Abingdon, VA, 24212, to assist with funeral expenses.

“… Concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 1 Thess. 4:13”

“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death…. Hosea 13:14”