Mel graduated from Jay High School in 1958, and following his marriage to Vickie Roberts of Zena, OK, on December 24, 1958, they moved to Hoquiam, Washington, where Mel worked a full time job while attending college at Grays Harbor College. Mel and Vickie had three sons and one daughter while living in Hoquiam, but because they both had large families in Jay and Grove, they opted to return to Delaware County before their children graduated from high school. Following their return to Oklahoma, Mel worked for Crest Engineering in Tulsa as a structural engineer and spent significant amounts of time in Saudi Arabia and Borneo. Extended absences are hard on a marriage and Mel and Vickie divorced in 1976. Mel met his second wife, Carolyn Niday, while working in Tulsa. They were married on June 24, 1978, and had one son. Carolyn passed away in 2007. Mel then married Donna George Gibbs whom he had known since the sixth grade until they both graduated from Jay High School in 1958. They were married on March 24, 2008, and this marriage lasted until his death on October 23, 2026.

Mel grew tired of spending extended periods of time overseas, and he and Carolyn bought a farm near Colcord, OK, where he built several chicken houses, raised cattle, and planted crops while Carolyn taught school in Little Kansas. When they grew tired of the chicken business, they sold that farm and bought a farm on the Sweetwater Hollow arm of Grand Lake and Mel continued raising cattle and Carolyn continued teaching until her death from breast cancer.

Mel was very active in the Grove Chapter of the Elks organization and rose to the rank of Exalted Ruler. He was an avid bowler in his younger years and bowled in many tournaments. Mel loved to ride his Harley Davidson and was a charter member of Group 33, a motorcycle club that raised funds to give scholarships to selected Grove and Jay graduating seniors. Group 33 also sponsored the Grove Easter Egg hunt for many years.

Mel was preceded in death by his parents, Emmett and Inez Crawford; his brother Billy who was a rodeo clown in Colorado; his sister Doris Payton of Jay; and his sister Bertha Fay Story of Jay. He leaves behind his devoted wife Donna of the home; his son Rick Crawford and wife Rhonda of Perry, OK; his daughter Robin Crawford of Grove; his son Rod Crawford of Jay; his son Ronald Crawford and wife Jera of Jay; and his son Patrick and his wife Beth of Jay. Also surviving are grandchildren Fahren Crawford and her fiancé Cord Teeter of Colorado City, CO; Zachery Crawford and his wife Meghan of Merrimac, OK; Blake and his wife Courtney of Stillwater, OK; Amanda Mckee and her fiancé Eric Quillin of Claremore, OK; Jessica Friend-Oakley Arnold and her husband Dusty of Vinita OK; Lacey Crawford and her husband Nathaniel Sturdy of Tulsa; Isaac Crawford and his wife Kate of Jay; Isaiah Crawford and his wife Rachel of Newark, CA; Levi Leroy and his wife Breanna of Colcord; Andrea Smith of Fort Smith, Arkansas; Braden Crawford and fiancé Kelsey Seaborn of Jay; Lydia Crawford of Jay; and Porter Crawford of Jay. Also surviving are great

From the young age of ten when he went to live with his grandmother to help her with his invalid grandfather, Mel has always been a hard worker...whether it be delivering papers, running a movie projector, pumping gas, designing oil rigs and radio towers, designing more efficient chicken houses to make egg gathering easier, raising cattle, planting crops, or brush hogging pastures. All of this allowed him the luxury of spending a couple of months each winter for several years enjoying the warm weather in South Padre Island, TX, where he and Donna met many wonderful friends from far flung places. Mel was loved by all who came in contact with him for his kindness, generosity, wit, and his gentle soul. Mel loved to sing karaoke and we know he is now singing his favorite song, Silver Wings, to his family, his thirsty Thursday buddies, and all of his friends who were waiting for his arrival in Heaven. He will forever be missed by all who knew and loved him.

A come-and-go visitation will be held on Monday, November 2, 2026, in Jay, OK from 5 pm to 7 pm. 

Per Mel’s request, a Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a date and place to be announced.