J.W. Crabtree, 74, died Feb. 11 at Great Bend Regional Hospital in Great Bend after a brief illness. Born on March 8, 1938 in Risco, Mo., he was the son of Lee and Frances (Gray) Crabtree. On Dec. 14, 1957, he married Myrtle Florence “Flo” Goudie in St. Louis, Mo. She died Jan. 1, 2004. He was employed as a warehouse/terminal worker for Railway Express in St. Louis, Mo., and worked in service stations for the majority of his life.
Mr. Crabtree served in the U.S. Air Force. He was a member of the Church of Christ.
Survivors include a step-daughter, Audrey Power of Goose Bay, Newfoundland Labrador, Canada; a brother, Billy Joe Crabtree of Centerville, Mo.; and a brother-in-law, John Melton of Great Bend. He was preceded in death by four brothers, James, Junior, Steve, and Roy Crabtree; and three sisters, Virginia Fields, Lorene Watson Brown, and Pauline Melton.
Cremation has been chosen, and a memorial service will be held at a later date, after which inurnment of the cremated remains will take place in Canada. There will be no viewing or visitation.  
           
Funeral arrangements provided by
Charter Funerals
2115 Washington St.
Great Bend, KS  67530
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Feb. 15, 2013