Verne Crowell died peacefully at home on April 3, 2015, surrounded by his family. He was born on July 8, 1916 at home on the corner of Monte Vista and Walnut Rd. and died in the home he built on the corner of Monte Vista and Crowell Rd.

Verne was born a cowboy and lived his life accordingly. He did it his way, no nonsense. He used horses for all of his farming until 1937 when he bought his Farmall H tractor.

He was an astute businessman and wore many hats, as well as he did his Stetson.  He was a co-founder of Hatch Milling Co., a board member of Petaluma Co-op, Stanislaus-Merced Savings & Loan, Turlock High School, the Stanislaus County Fair Board for 25 years, the Masonic Lodge No. 395, the Stockton Scottish Rite,  and the Aahmes Shrine, and was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church.

Verne was always most comfortable in the saddle. He reveled in a good horse or cattle trade and kept up with this interest and business until very recently. He was a member of the Rancheros Vistadores and was active in the Turlock Horseman’s Club while his children were growing up. Ropings, brandings, and packtrips with friends and family were the cornerstones of his life. 

In addition to horses, he was passionate about fishing, which he did from Mexico to Alaska. 

He was an avid hunter. As a young man, he never missed a deer season in the Sierras. This progressed to his proudest achievements of a double Grand Slam of Big Horn sheep.

Verne loved traveling and covered the world with friends and family. As much as he loved seeing new places, his favorite place was at a table playing gin rummy. He was always a gracious host… unless he was losing. 

He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Barbara Whitaker Crowell, and his infant daughter Linda. He is survived by his 3 children, Lynne Crowell, Mike (Jonette) Crowell, Gary (Paige) Crowell; 5 grandchildren, Melissa (Mike) McWeeney, Adam (Vicki) Crowell, Zach (Shanna) Crowell, Elizabeth (Marcus) Theis, Cecily (Chris) Binfield, and twelve great-grandchildren.  He is also survived by his second wife of 6 years, Dorene Crowell, and 3 step-children, Cindy (Rick) Sotherland, Joe Mattos, Kelly Mattos, and 9 step-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 17th at the First United Methodist Church, 1660 Arbor Way in Turlock.  Burial will be private at Turlock Memorial Park.