Lavon Crawford

Lavon Crawford, 78, of Jonesboro passed from this life on December 28, 2016 at St. Bernard’s Medical Center.

Lavon Crawford was born on September 18, 1938 in Jonesboro to the late Woodrow Wilson Crawford and Goldie Pearl Lakey Crawford Dabbs. He lived most of his life in the Jonesboro area, after six years in Nashville,TN and nine in Memphis,TN. He was owner of the Jonesboro Bowling Center for fourteen years from 1988 to 2002 and a member of the noon time Rotary Club. He was the recipient of numerous awards throughout his career that included the 2000 WIBC Proprietor of the Year by the Arkansas State Women’s Bowling Association and the 2001 Betty T. Sloan Promotion Award. He was also inducted into the Arkansas State Bowling Hall of Fame in 2003. He was an avid Arkansas State University football and basketball fan and a member of Christian Valley Christian Church.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his stepfather, William Dabbs; brother, Bob Crawford; and brother-in-law, Carl Cole.

He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Norma Ferguson Crawford of the home; son, Mark Crawford of Houston, TX; two daughters, Cynthia Hager of Nashville, TN and Tonia (Harry) Jones of Jonesboro; brother, William (Valerie) Dabbs of Franklin, TN; sister, Ethel Cole of Jonesboro; seven grandchildren, Michael (Audrey) Crawford, John (Tonya) Crawford, Luke (Cassandra) Hager, Lindsay (Hunter) Lewis, Ellie Hager, Lauren (Gunner) Balch, and Logan Harrison; five great grandchildren, Jaxson Crawford, Hannah Kay Crawford, Emma Crawford, Matthew Lewis, and Grayson Balch.

Funeral service will be Tuesday at 11:00 am in the Emerson Memorial Chapel with Bro. Mitch Ford officiating. Interment will directly follow at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery with Emerson Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.

Visitation will be Monday from 5-7 pm at Emerson Funeral Home.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are Mr. Crawford’s grandsons; Michael Crawford, John Crawford, Luke Hager, Logan Harrison, Hunter Lewis, and Gunner Balch. Honorary pallbearers are Joe Ferguson, Garry Lamberson, Danny Ferguson, Terry Ishmael, Chris Nochowicz, Bobby Lloyd Hester, J.D. Salmons, Joe Turney, Jack Richardson, Dale Wright, Frank Lee, Tom Gschwend, Chris James, Tom Fairchild, Kelly Stevens, Brian Stevenson and all other former Jonesboro Bowling Center employees.

For lasting memorials the family requests that you consider the Christian Valley Christian Church Building Fund, 2016 Valley View Drive, Jonesboro, AR 72404