Derek Crawford

Derek St. John Crawford, 1943-2021Derek St. John Crawford was born in San Diego, California in 1943. He was the father of Harmony Crawford, Freedom Crawford (regretfully deceased), and Flight Crawford, and stepfather to Kevin Toll and Ashley Toll (Kayser). His illustrious life took Derek and his family on many paths. Aside from being a loving and devoted husband to his wife Marcia Crawford, Derek was an entrepreneur and a philosopher who resisted conforming to any 9-5 job. In the mid 1970's he ran a business harvesting and distributing exotic plants (i.e. Cobra Lilies). He was a musician, teaching many a budding rock star how to play guitar. And, later in life he led educational excursions teaching about wild edibles in the local Rocky Mountains. Derek very much enjoyed sharing his learning and pursuit of knowledge with others.Derek and his family put down roots in 1977 in Livingston, Montana, when he was hired by the City as a Grantsman, whereby he secured funding to clean up the lagoon in Sacajawea Park. Derek enjoyed going on walks around the town with Marcia and they recognized that remediation was needed to clean up the pollution around Livingston's center point. Derek drafted the grant, found the money, and made it happen. Many locals and tourists alike enjoy the park and lagoon we cherish today due in large part to his efforts.Music was one of Derek's greatest passions, and in addition to providing private lessons -- and writing and composing many original songs -- in the 1980's he was the leader of a traveling band named "Freefall," with his wife Marcia on lead vocals, lifelong friend Frank O'Connor on bass, and Mike Vandervort on drums. "Freefall" took the family on many adventures, including road trips around the Pacific Northwest, south to Colorado, and east to the Dakotas. Derek's affinity for outdoor activities and fitness included a running regime for the entire family. While most of the family merely endured the activity, daughter, Harmony, took to it with unstoppable determination. Recognizing her potential, Derek dedicated himself to coaching her, eventually leading to her participation in the 1981 Junior Olympics in Amarillo, Texas. His commitment to her training resulted in Harmony defeating hundreds of fellow cross-country runners from all over the country, and bringing National Gold back home to Livingston.After raising their children, Derek and Marcia built Skyport Road at the top of Orea Creek, and made their home at the summit of their beloved mountain ridge. Derek was an intensely spiritual person, and a voracious reader of an array of teachings. He sought enlightenment and awareness, while also challenging and encouraging others to question, learn, and to seek knowledge and truth. These interests included several years serving as a minister for Livingston's Unity Church. Derek was a powerful influence in many people's lives. His approach to life was avant-garde and rule-bending, and he lived with great passion in all that he did. Derek and Marcia's surviving children are each thriving in their own right. Harmony Crawford currently lives in the rainy Seattle area with her family and is a successful business executive. Flight Crawford resides in sunny Florida and is a hard working Registered Nurse. Stepson Kevin Toll is a working musician in Paradise Valley, MT. Stepdaughter Ashley Toll-Kayser founded Livingston Landlady, a property management company, and resides in Bozeman. Additionally, Derek is survived by his adoring wife, Marcia, and their eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.With all our love, we say, "see you soon, Derek". XO Franzen-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements.