We would like to thank all of you for coming here today to celebrate the life of my father, Bud Crowers
I would like to thank all of you for coming here today to celebrate the life of my father, Bud Crowers. I know my Dad would be very happy to know all of you cared so much for him that you came to show your support for his family.
It was very difficult for my sisters and I to put into words how we would honor him today. Putting his life into words did not seem to do him justice. As we all share our memories of him, the following words seem to capture the essence of his life.
I think all of us would agree that my Dad had a larger than life personality. Everything about him was big. He had a hearty laugh. He gave big bear hugs. His stories were captivating. Wherever he went, he would command the attention of the room.
We remember how ambitious my Dad was throughout his life. Even as a small boy living in Drexel Hill, PA. He had the responsibility of being the oldest son of four children. His brother Ron and his sisters, Adrianne and Sue Ellen remember him as much as a friend as he was a brother. As a young man, he always participated in some type of activity. He volunteered his time as a school safety guard and maintained a paper route. At a young age, he began his career at Exxon while continuing his education at St. Joseph’s University and served his country in the Navy Reserves. He remained with Exxon for thirty years.
While we were all sitting around the table last night, laughing and crying about the memories, it struck us how passionate he was about the things were important to him – family, friends, soccer and theater.
Although my Dad worked very hard, he always made time for each of the kids by supporting us in our academics and various extra-curricular activities. In earlier days, he would adjust his work schedule so he would be available to coach all of us in soccer. In later days he still continued to adjust his schedule by rearranging his dialysis needs to join us at a wedding or other family event. Growing up with my Dad was a lot of fun. You could never tell what he would do next. I remember one year at Christmas he dressed himself as Santa and drove around the neighborhood on my 4 wheeler shouting “Merry Christmas!”. At Halloween he would dress up in scary costumes and scare the neighborhood kids. One year, he came to my sister’s birthday party wearing a red ballet tutu on his head. Everyone always got a good laugh from my Dad.
Another one of his passions was theater. He was involved with the Twilight Players at St. Joe’s University, the Chillicothe Civic Theater, the Erie Playhouse and the Fairview High School Drama Club. We remembered how he acted in a local television event :I’ll see you in Court”. We watched the show waiting to see my Dad’s big debut. Finally, at the end of the show, he looked into the camera and said “I’ll see you in court”. Much to our surprise, this was his only line! Later, he spent time on a local Erie network on St. Patrick’s Day pretending to be an established Irish gourmet chef where he prepared a ham and cabbage feast using his finest Irish brogue. I don’t think the host of the show ever recovered. At Fairview High School, one of our favorite productions was “Help, I’m trapped in a High School”. Only my Dad would have a significant speaking role in a high school play!
People viewed my Dad as a fun-loving, charismatic person. He also had a very gentle side. My mother often said he roared like a lion, but was tender as a lamb. We never doubted that when we needed him, he’d be there.
I think what I admire most about my Dad is that he lived by a very simple principle. Taken from a quote from Shakespeare’s Mac Beth “To thy own self, be true.” Through his example he showed us the value of hard work, compassion, respect for others, and respect for ourselves.
Even as his health deteriorated, my Dad adapted his lifestyle to maintain his passions. He continued to coach soccer. And quite frankly, became pretty darn zippy on his scooter. My Dad never let his diabetes slow his down. Life is what you make it, and my Dad made it fun. When my Dad went into surgery a couple of weeks ago, it was only natural to hear him telling jokes to the nurses as he was taken to the operating room. My Dad would not have had ti any other way. The hardest part for us in the last couple weeks, is knowing our loving Dad has been called home. Dad, we love you, and we will miss you.
In the words my Dad would so often say “Peace be on to you.”