Obituary of Donald LeRoy Crowell

Donald LeRoy Crowell known as “Don” by most, except for his daughter Tammy who affectionately called him LeRoy when she wanted to get her point across, passed away peacefully on April 9, 2012. Son of Esther and George, Don was a Tacoma boy, born August 4, 1928, raised in Tacoma and lived most of his life right here. He retired from Tacoma Boat/Northern Line Machine Shop after 27 years. Before his health took a turn for the worse Don loved to hunt and play golf. No matter how old or sick he was he never lost his flare for flirting whether it be at his favorite coffee spot at the Tacoma Mall or in bed in the hospital. Don passed two traits on to all of his children. His love of sports and his work ethic. At 16 he was already working in the Todd Pacific Shipyards. As a young man of 17 he joined the Marines, was attached to the USS Iowa and spent time in Hawaii. After discharge he came home to Tacoma where he married Donna and had 5 children. The family moved to Enumclaw, Washington for a number of years where Don worked at the Weyerhaeuser Lumber Mill there. He seemed to always gravitate back to Tacoma though and finally settled in to his work at Tacoma Boat/Northern Line Machine Shop. That is where he met his wife of 43 years, Barbara. He is survived by Barbara and his 6 children; Don now of San Jose, California; Dennis and his wife Victoria of Belfair, Washington; Jon currently in New York; Kirk and his wife Debbie of Shelton, Washington; Tammy now of San Jose, California and Trina and her husband Dan Jablonsky of Littleton, Colorado. He has 7 grandchildren; Jamie daughter of Jon, working on a graduate degree at the University of California, Santa Barbara; Bryan and Christopher, sons of Kirk; Dominic, Abby, Alex, and Elizabeth children of Trina and Dan; and one great-grandchild; Lillianna, daughter of Bryan. We are sure Don is in a place where he is free from the earthly ailments that plagued him in his final years and is smiling, back hunting and playing golf. You will be missed Dad.