VERN CRAWLEY 1950 - 1985 STATION AGENT, SENIOR STATION AGENT, STATION MANAGER DRO FMN DIK PHX WYS Just finished reading the latest FRONTIER NEWS. Great as usual. Keep up the good work. Vern Crawley, DRO (2/11/02) Vern Crawley used his number one seniority to take the temporary manager's job in the West Yellowstone station when it was open during the summer season. He could work in PHX during the cold, miserable winter months, then when it became brutally hot in PHX, he would go to manage the West Yellowstone station. Such a deal! Vern was really a great fellow, though and deserved the opportunity. -Mac McElhaney (3/13/05 Just a short note to say HI and ask you to pass on to the ladies that put on the PHX Reunion last year what a good job they did. Hope they can continue to do it. I would be willing to help from up here if there's anything I can do. Let me know. Thanks again, -Vern Crawley (1/27/06) V.R. Crawley Seniority date 12/23/50 FL/ALEA seniority list dated 11/1/55 He was #7, emp# 01605, on the station agent list 7/1/84. He is not on the 1/1/86 list. -Jake Lamkins (2/13/06) Note with $20 check: Hi Jake, How thing's going good I hope. Everything fine here in Colorado, but did have a pretty rough winter, lots of snow. I would like to order the FL ALEA seniority list for 7/1/94. Enclosed is $20 for same plus another year of the magazine. I have seen articles by some people in regard to changing some things in the magazine. I think it is just great the way it is. Keep it coming. Sincerely, -Vern Crawley (7/12/08) Postal Note: Hi Jake, Hope everything is going well with you. It's awfully wet here, we had almost two inches of rain at my place on Sunday night, yard is like a lake. I started working for FL on 23rd Dec 1950 at DRO. The article on Clyde Longhart (Spring 2008 FL newsletter) brought back memories. We had an H Marker here in DRO; had to turn it on in the a.m. and off in the p.m. - something to do with White Sands as I recall. We took our own weather reports and had to monitor the H Markers in our area - as I recall it was ALS, MVS, Laveta, GUP, FMN & CEZ. I worked in DRO & moved to FMN in 1951 when they moved the transfer point there. Back to DRO after nine months and worked there till July of 1958 at which time I and Carl Clark traded places. I went to PHX & he came to DRO. In 1961 I bid for DIK & moved there as manager. I and my agent Don Kadrmas also relieved Harvey Schiermeyer in LEM on the weekends. In 1962 I moved back to PHX and finished up my career there. In 1977 I had enough of the hot summers and transferred to WYS for the summer. I did this for 6 years - the most enjoyable portion of my career. I thoroughly enjoyed working through the best years of airline history I think, when you treated people well and gave them good service. I retired in 1985 & moved back to DRO to run my dad's ranch when he passed away. Vern Crawley (For the not-so-oldtimers: MVS - Monte Vista CO, *Laveta - Pass where H Marker located, DIK - Dickinson ND, LEM - Lemmon SD. FL pilot Karl Penner died here in a crash Mar 22, 1969 while piloting a private aircraft taking his barbershop quartet to a show in CEZ.) (7/30/08) Hi Jake, Hope you are well and ready for the new year. I have to report another old timer gone west. He was my life long buddy. We both worked for the old FAL about 35 years. Both started in 1950 and went til the end. His name is Richard "Dick" Hill. He died on Dec 26, 2009 in Yuma AZ from complications of alzheimer disease. His and my families were neighbors and friends since the early 1900s. His grandpa was my dad's grade school teacher. I transferred to PHX in 1958 and Dick & family came down later and worked about a year before transferring back to DRO. He didn't have enough work there. He came back to DRO and worked full time for FL besides running a ranch and milking 35 to 40 head of dairy cows. Dick and I drove a school bus together in the 1950s to make a little extra money. He leaves behind a wife, Glenna, of 62 years and a daughter and two sons. He will be missed. -Vern Crawley (1/8/10) Hi Jake, Put me down for three more years of the Frontier News. Hope I can last that much longer. Saw the note from Linda Jean Fredrickson in this issue. She was always one of my favorite friends. I had the pleasure of being invited and attending her wedding. She is a great gal. Sending in my information to the museum in West Yellowstone about my life there. Best six years of my life. -Vern Crawley (4/22/10) I need a little "help" with my memory. I was hired at Frontier in January 1978 as a first-officer and I had a good time working there. During the first part of the 1980s I used to ride the Convair 580 jumpseat to West Yellowstone and Jackson Hole a lot to "escape Denver" and GO fishin'. I am trying to remember the name of the station agent who befriended me and took me fishing several times in his boat on Hebgen Lake. He was from Durango or Grand Junction area if I remember correctly. He lived in a very small trailer with his wife while they were assigned to WYS for the summer. I was allowed to sleep on the floor of the trailer! Later, I took my 1974 red Jeep pickup with camper up there. The time I was furloughed from Frontier I lived in my camper around Yellowstone Park. I remember being PAID to be OFF for two months that summer, because I had accrued 9 weeks of furlough pay! -Al Beardsley (retired in Tennessee from UPS as a captain in November 2007) (5/13/10) That would be Vern Crawley who was from DRO but worked PHX senior station agent most of his 36 years at FL. -Jake Lamkins (5/13/10) Vern Crawley. That's him!!!! Thanks!!!!!!! What fond memories I have of WYS and fishing with Vern! -Al Beardsley (5/15/10 Hi Jake, Hope you are doing OK. I surely hope you don't die young as per your note on magazine. My mother's family were all prone to heart problems. 4 out of 7 died from heart attacks, including my mother, and I have had heart problems for about 40 years but am still kicking. High blood pressue and diabetes. Wishing you the best. -Vern Crawley (1/17/12) Hi Jake, I would like you to know that I sure enjoy reading the Frontier News. I like to read all parts, even the sad parts, obits, and all. I wish more people would write in their stories and adventures. I'm sure they would be interesting; especially the real oldtimers from Monarch, Challenger and Arizona Airways. My next door neighbor started with Monarch, I think in 1946. I guess they used to fly trips as stewards& work in the stations. I started when Frontier was a baby in 1950. We had to work six days a week back then for a whopping big $175 per month, no overtime, maybe comp time off if you had to work late. We had to take our own weather reports and monitor the H markers every hour. It sure got nerve wracking when you were working and the weather kept getting worse. Our minimums here in DRO were 2500' (ceiling) & 3 miles (visibility). When you are by yourself and no one to help make the decisions as to landing in DRO or sending the passengers to FMN for boarding there. It tends to make one very nervous. A story of my own, back in the 1960s, John Koehler of PHX & I decided we wanted to go coyote hunting so we contacted Bud Rea of Silver City and made arrangements to go there. We wrapped our rifles in blankets and hopped on the old DC-3 and went down. Imagine trying to that now-a-days. We never saw a coyote but we did explore an old copper mining ghost town & climbed all over the old mine. Very interestig. -Vern Crawley (6/7/12) V R CRAWLEY M DOB 9/10/28 DOH 12/23/50 per the Dec 1984 Pension Records. -Jake Lamkins (9/25/15) Hi Vern, It's always good to hear from you but your last letter took my breath away. I am overwhelmed by your generosity ($1,000 check) and it will all be used for the FL News. You are a lifetime subscriber and never have to re-new again. If any of your family would also like to get a copy of the newsletter, just send me their names & addresses. THANK YOU again, my ol' FLriend! -Jake Lamkins (11/3/16) Got another $1,000 check from him! -Jake Lamkins (1/31/18) Hi Vern, Well, you made my day again. Your generosity is overwhelming and I really appreciate it. THANK YOU again, my ol' FLriend! Jake Lamkins (2/1/18) Vern Crawley flew west March 26th. Obituary is on Google. I have the family address in DRO if you would like it. -Greg Davis (3/28/20) DAMN! This hits close to home. Vern was one of my favorite FLolks. Thanks for letting me know. Send the info you have. -Jake Lamkins (3/28/20) We were all a family even through the years. Thanks for all your hard work. Vern was indeed a very special light to all of us. -Greg Davis (3/28/20) FLacebook - FL Club PHX senior station agent Vern Crawley flew west the 26th. He was 91 & one of my favorite FLolks. https://obituaries.durangoherald.com/obituaries/durangoherald/obituary.aspx?n=vern-crawley&pid=195807198 -Jake Lamkins (3/28/20) Trish Swanson-Hawk Prayers for his family and many friends. Betty Saylor Prayers for Vern's family. Steve Smith So sorry. Ada Gehman Vern was always one of my favorites! Loved to see him walking toward the airplane. So sorry! Rick Broome Prayers and Blessings. So truly sorry. Here’s a Toast... Dennis Casadoro I believe I back filled for him to start my career with FL. He would go to WYS in the summers and they needed Boomers to sweat on the Ramp. RIP Vern, forever grateful for the chance. Carolyn Lutz RIP Vern. You were such a wonderful person. Always kind and considerate!!! Liz Gomez Prayers & blessings to his family! Dan Price One of the best! Cyndy Camomile Absolutely one of the best. RIP sweet man. Dan Price RIP Vern. Bambi Coons You are so wonderful to post and honor all these beautiful people. Henry Greathouse Deepesy sympathy to his family & friends. Martie Palser One of our greats. RIP. Margaret Jaeger God Bless you Vern. Favorite Phoenix Agent. What a gentle man you were. (3/28/20) Ginger Treptow Got a call today from his wife. A very sad loss, and such a great guy. They will do a Memorial later, due to all confinement of everyone for the COVID19. Be safe everyone, and Rest in Peace Vern. Your one of Gods Angels, and now you can be in charge of the Heavenly Pigeons!!!! Penny Overdier Very sad news. I worked with Vern when I was in PHX and he was a wonderful person. Prayers for him and his family. Rest in peace, Vern. Larry Kramer So sorry to hear this news....good man. Don Hockenbury He was a great senior agent when i worked in PHX. Ann Whitlock Vern was always so kind to everyone. Prayers for his family and friends. Bonnie Dahl Vern was a great guy, knew him for a long time, saw him at several PHX reunions. So sorry to hear he flew West! God Bless you Vern! Joy Trudeau S Sorry to hear about Vern. Would always talk to him at the PHX Reunions. Such a nice and thoughtful person. Diane Wright Smith Vern was a gem for sure. Chuck DeLoach Everyone loved him at West Yellowstone. Mary Dipper Prayers for Verns family! RIP VERN Larry Harms When Vern worked at that Durango station he also drove a school bus when my wife was going to school. Cherylann Morgan So sorry. Great guy. (3/29/20) Jackie Sergeant Williams Yes he was !!!! (4/1/20) V R CRAWLEY DRO station agent Per the Nov 1955 Frontier Employees Roster. ---------------------------------------- V R CRAWLEY PHX station agent DOB 9/10/28 DOH 12/23/50 Per the Feb 1960 Frontier Employees Roster. ---------------------------------------- V R CRAWLEY Emp# 01605 PHX senior station agent DOB 9/10/28 DOH 12/23/50 Per the Dec 1970 Frontier Employees Roster. ---------------------------------------- V R CRAWLEY Emp# 01605, PHXOO Per the Nov 1984 Frontier Employees Roster. -Jake Lamkins (4/2/20) FLacebook - FL Club FLight West: Vern Crawley DRO FMN DIK PHX WYS senior station agent Vern Crawley's memorial webpage has been posted at http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Vern_Crawley.html He was a longtime friend and great supporter of the Frontier newsletter. His departure leaves a hole in a lot of hearts. -Jake Lamkins (4/3/20) So very sorry to hear of Vern’s passing. He was an integral part of Frontier Airlines in Phoenix where he and my dad, Charley Southerland, worked. Condolences and prayers to his family. -Debbie Southerland Fischer (4/3/20) I really liked the memorial page for Vern! Wow, what a life! I saw him a lot during my career with Frontier. He was really a nice guy! I think I have more photos of him from the PHX reunions. I’ll send soon. Bless you, your friend, -Bonnie Dahl (4/3/20) Thank you Jake, I’m not sure exactly how to post a remembrance so I am hoping this is the way. Vern was always so special to me and so his Flight West really does leave a hole in my heart. I will miss him. Rest in peace dear Vern. -Linda-Jean Fredrickson (4/3/20) He was always so kind and helpful. -Patty Hughes Smith (4/3/20) A great guy! It was always good to see him. -Jackie Sergeant Williams (4/3/20) I was just thinking about Frontier people who meant a lot to my family. I remember John and Dorothy Kohler - everytime they came for dinner they brought us kids tootsie rolls, lollipops and Ken Banman's pool parties always had great spaghetti dinners. One time Dad and Larry Clark were working on Dad's 66 Chevy. I was 8 and "helping them" - my first taste of beer - they let me have a sip. Danny Price played ball with Dad and we watched. Can you let them know I appreciate their kindness as well and their condolences? Also Richard and Jean Paul. I appreciate all of their condolences even though I didn't know them all. Thank you for getting in contact with Margaret so I could contact you. -Cindy Crawley Peterson (6/13/20)