David Crockett

David Calvin Crockett passed peacefully in his sleep at home, at the age of 97; early on the morning of October 11th, 2022.

David was a WW-II veteran, and spent his final years in Grand Junction, CO.  He grew up in the suburbs of war-torn London, England.  At fourteen, as he rode his bicycle home, his house was bombed in a German raid.  The family was forced to move to his grandparent’s home in Gravesend, Kent, England.  Shortly thereafter, he and his two older brothers were evacuated, and sentseparately to live on farms away from the city, until they finished high school.

Upon graduation, Dave enlisted in the Royal Air Force (RAF). A year later, at age 18, he transferred to the American 8th Army Air Corps, and was sent state-side for gunnery training for B-17s and B-25 aircraft.

Following the war, while attending the University of Florida, Dave met Melvean Smith, whose father had built the pews in the church for whom Dave’s grandfather, Stephen Crockett, had formerly been pastor.  They married June 6th, 1947, and raised three children, primarily in Maryland.  As a hospital administrator for Indian Health, he relished assignments to remote locations to work with various tribes, throughout the west, as well as Alaska.

Dave and Melvean bought property, built a home north of Fort Collins, Colorado, and enjoyed many years there.  In 1998, after over 50 years of marriage, Melvean died tragically in a traffic accident. Dave later married Faye Catledge-Sowell. They lived for a time in La Conner, Washington, then moved to Bainbridge, Georgia, to be closer to Faye’s family, who embraced him lovingly and completely.

Faye passed in 2016, and in June of 2017, Dave moved to Grand Junction.  He quickly became a devoted follower of local bluegrass groups; especially Stray Grass, who performed for his birthday on numerous occasions.  He was invited to many parties and concerts, and is well known in the Grand Valley music scene.

Dave’s older brother, Jeff, passed away in April, and not long after, we said goodbye to his amazing dog, Tippy, who was literally the mascot at the retirement home.  Nobody loved dogs, and indeed all animals, as well as he.  Dave devoted countless hours mending fences and stables for Carol’s horse, and we were all very fond of chickens!

Dave enjoyed hiking, hunting, fishing, skiing (seven runs on thePowderhorn ski slope, on his 94th birthday!), and tennis. He participated in the Senior Olympics in Fort Collins, Colorado, for many years. As children, the family had great times camping and traveling.  Vacations were often spent at Nags Head, Myrtle Beach, and on Skyline Drive, with occasional trips to Hawaii, to visit Jim. Dad was handy; he laid miles of bricks, and liked working with wood.

Dave is survived by his three children: James David Crockett, of Kialua, Hawaii, on the island of Oahu; Carol Anne Crockett, of Grand Junction, Colorado; and Kenneth Stephen Crockett, of Austin, Texas.  His second family, in northern Florida, are too numerous to list.  Dave’s wishes were to have his ashes scattered upon the graves of his wives, who are both buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, in Madison, Florida.

Celebrations of Life will take place in both Grand Junction and Madison, dates to be announced.  The family extends love and gratitude to all who knew and loved David.  He truly lived a rich life, and will be remembered for his love of it.