Richard Claughton Crawford

Richard (Rick) Claughton Crawford III of Olympia, WA, died peacefully in his home on May 5th, 2026, at age 71. To quote his dear friend Justin, “You have a heart of gold, and you’ve shared your heart with so many people that now only 10% is left.”

Rick was born in Oak Lawn, IL, to parents Richard and Margaret Crawford. His earliest memory is sitting in the back of the station wagon at the drive-in movies, wearing his Dr. Dentons, playing with two friends, and watching the movie “Journey to the Center of the Earth” while his mother and the other mom sat in the front seat with their backs to the screen, chatting and smoking cigarettes. He went to St. Gerald Elementary School and started many mornings at Mass as an altar boy. Rick and his sister Nancy spent summers with each set of grandparents, half the time in Danville, IL, and half in Grand Beach, MI, where life was wild and free! He felt that his greatest accomplishment was becoming an Eagle Scout, the highest rank in scouting. At age 16, he was the first Eagle Scout in the town of Oak Lawn, and he fulfilled all of the requirements on his own.

Rick studied at both the University of Illinois and the Evergreen College. He also took many night classes from how to be your own vet to how to be a blacksmith. Often, after taking one class and devoting himself to learning all that he could, the teachers asked him to become an instructor. From his studies, he learned how to raise horses, and over time he bought four Belgian draft horses who helped him plow the hay in his field, take community members on covered wagon rides, and transport wedding couples in his surrey. Rick took a variety of art classes. His house, as well as family member’s houses, are filled with his original artwork, created with water colors, bronze, or stained glass. He loved to cook, and his family looked forward to receiving smoked salmon every Christmas. Rick translated ideas into action. After visiting a hydroponics farm at Epcot in Disney World, he returned to Olympia and built a hydroponics area in his green house. With all these interests, he collected many tools of the trade. The joke is: don’t ask Rick if he has something, ask him where it is.

Rick loved to travel. His favorite trip was to Egypt with his mom and Diane. In his camper, he has been to all but five National Parks, sometimes staying in the lodge, sometimes eating at a restaurant, and sometimes just driving through. Please say Hi from Rick if you ever travel to a National Park.

Rick has always been “that guy.” Who would wrestle this sumo wrestler? Who would come onstage for this magic trick? He would usually act immediately and with compassion. If he saw a spill on the floor, he would not step over it or call for help. He would clean it up. Although he admitted that his reputation as a wild man was deserved, Rick saw himself as one who stepped up to the occasion. He didn’t see himself as special; it was just what he did.

Working with and for senior citizens gave Rick an outlet for leadership and friendship that lasted all his adult life. He edited The Senior News for 46 years. The paper grew from his first idea, The Birdcage Liner, to the successful publication when he retired. Newspaper work led to television work, highlighting seniors and programs for seniors in the area. He joined Senior Action Network and won the Caregiver of the Year Award in 2011. He loved to work with senior citizens, often calling them raisins (in a loving way); he felt that they were often overlooked people.

Rick’s love language is telling stories. He could share all kinds of personal stories for hours on end. One story would jump start another and another. When he listened to his favorite song “St. James Inferno” performed by Lou Rawls, he played air guitar and sang…then told about all the times that he heard the song during his life. Rick once said, “Every person who becomes a friend of mine is a friend for life.”

Rick loved his house at Winter Creek, especially how he designed it and put his dream into action. He videotaped every step as the contractors built the structure and put in Rick’s creative touches. At the end of his life, he was able to remain in the place that had given him so much happiness. And here is where the team of friends, true angels, visited him on a daily schedule, and even when they weren’t signed up, they stopped by. His nephew Patrick also stayed with him, caring for him with a positive attitude that filled Rick’s last days with joy.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his sister Nancy Blecher (Robert), his niece Maggie Koller (Diego Garcia-Montero), and his nephew Patrick Koller. His advice for the next generation: Read the directions.

A Celebration of Life will be held on July 11at Funeral Alternatives of Washington, 455 North Street Southeast, Tumwater, at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, you can honor Rick with a gift to benefit Senior Services for South Sound (https://www.southsoundseniors.org/give).