Laroy Crow

Durango resident Laroy F. Crow died Monday, June 20, 2011, in Durango. He was 85.

Laroy was born Aug. 16, 1925, in Sulfur, OK, son of Lee and Annie Crow. He grew up in Cortez, CO, and graduated from Cortez High School. He served in the Navy during World War II. He attended the old Fort Lewis College and the University of Kansas, graduating with a degree in business and mechanical engineering. Laroy worked for Union Carbide Mining and Metals Division in Rifle, Slick Rock and Craig, CO, Casper, WY; in Tuxedo Park, NY, and King City, CA. He began his real estate career in Durango in 1971 and continued to stay involved in that field until his retirement in 2004.

Roy was passionate about the less fortunate and doing for them. He was PTA president and worked with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and the Chamber of Commerce in King City. He was active in the Chamber of Commerce in Durango. He won a Distinguished Service Award for his involvement on the Fort Lewis College Foundation Board for 12 years. He was active in and served as president of the Board of Realtors.

Roy was also active in the Rotary Clubs. He was a past President and District Governor and the Rotary Park Gazebo was constructed during his time as Club President. He was also recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow.

He was passionate about archaeology, conserving and donating two Anasazi sites that were located on their farm. He was responsible for the preservation of 160 acres dedicated to the New Mexico Archaeological Conservancy. He and Judy donated all of the artifacts from Puzzle House Anasazi site to Fort Lewis College.

Roy’s family remembers him as a loving family man who enjoyed spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by siblings, Guy Crow, June Zancanella, Robert Crow, and James Crow. Roy is survived by his wife Julia “Judy” L. Crow of Durango; children Mary (her spouse, Stan) Dunlap of Durango; Glenn LaRoy Crow (his spouse, Dr. Charlene Slover) of Arvada, CO; grandchildren Jeffrey Crow of Arvada, CO; Jeremy and Brendan Close of Philadelphia, PA; Christopher Bentler of Austin, TX; Tammy Lucas of Fremont, CA; Julie Quandt of Germany; Brian Dunlap and Jen De Herrera of Denver; 21 great-grandchildren, brother Lawrence Crow of Spokane, WA.

Services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, June 24, 2011, at First United Methodist Church in Durango, with Pastor Jeff Huber officiating. Burial will occur at Sylvan Cemetery in Pleasant View, CO.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Southwest Safe House, P.O. Box 2107, Durango, CO 81302, or Hospice of Mercy, 1 Mercado St., Suite 270, Durango, CO 81301.