Bernard “Bernie” Crewse

Bernard “Bernie” Crewse was born June 18, 1942, in Graff, and departed this life Jan. 19, 2025, in his home in Willow Springs, after a short illness. He was 82 years of age. Bernie was the eleventh and the youngest child of Luther and Rosie (Sullivant) Crewse. He grew up around Beaver Creek and attended the Crewse School and Mountain Grove High School. He married Twyla Lemons and five children, Bernard Keith, Rodney, Ronda, Richard and Vickie, were born into this union. For several years, they owned and ran the Crewse Grocery and Station, south of Mountain Grove. He attended Glendale Church and was saved and baptized in Fox Creek. Bernie later married Faye Elliot. Bernie was a carpenter for most of his working years until he retired. Bernie was talented in making shelves, tables and other numerous projects from wood. He liked to show off his homemade tater gun to his grandkids. Bernie was always a true Ford man. He was overseer and president of the Crewse Cemetery board. Bernie loved to bowl in his earlier years, where he collected numerous trophies and had a chance to pro bowl but declined. He was always up for a family game of horseshoes. Bernie was a big Cardinals baseball fan. He had his own softball team called the Crewsers, which consisted of family members. He was always the pitcher and played up into his seventies.  His favorite thing to do at family gatherings was to play a game of wiffle ball. Bernie was always the first to say, “Are we going to play a game?” Bernie loved to watch westerns and his favorite show was The Rifleman. His favorite singers were Marty Robbins and Jon Anderson, and his favorite gospel group was the Booth Brothers. He dearly loved his dogs, Sandy, Rosie, and Jesse. Every night he never failed to say goodnight to his beloved dogs that had passed and would then close his curtains. He had made a special cemetery in the backyard honoring them and insisting his daughter’s dog be buried there as well.
Bernie was preceded in death by his parents; son, Bernard Keith; grandson, Derick Lee Sellars; and his 10 siblings, Gladys, Armor, Murve, Marie, Elston, Clarel, Lavell, Willis, Mae and Leavearn. He leaves behind his loving wife of 43 years, Faye, of Willow Springs; his children, Rodney (Ronda) Crewse, of Cabool; Ronda (Ben) Sellars, of Mountain Grove; Richard (Serena) Crewse, of West Plains; Vickie (Dale) Riden, of Ozark; two sisters-in-law, May Cunningham and Melva Stradley; brother-in-law, Carl Elliot; 12 grandchildren, Jeff, Amber, Jake, Bryan, Alexis, Josh, Brenton, Ashley, Zach, Johannah, Grace and Daniel; 28 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; and one great-grandbaby on the way in a few weeks. Graveside services for Bernard Crewse were held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, in the Green Mountain Cemetery, north of Mountain Grove, with Bro. Bruce Smith and the Rev. Rodney Crewse officiating. Special songs were, “Go Rest High On That Mountain” and “I Will Cross Over The River.” Burial was in the Green Mountain Cemetery under the direction of the Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home of Mountain Grove. Online Condolences: www.craighurttfuneralhome.com.