Wayne Crowley

Wayne Merrick Crowley was a loving husband, devoted father and attentive grandparent. He was a family man, always concerned for the wellbeing of those he loved. He was a respected employee and friend who made others feel welcome and valued. With quiet reserve, he held to his beliefs, expressed his opinions when asked, and enjoyed talking to friends and strangers alike. Wayne lived his life for the good of those around him.

Wayne Merrick was born on January 14, 1918 in Sparta, Michigan. It was a decade of change in America, from assembly line manufacturing to women’s suffrage, from the temperance movement to fair labor laws affecting children. The United States was emerging as a world power, yet years of war and an emerging economic depression also shaped the character of its citizens.

Wayne was the firstborn of Arthur and Ruth (Merrick) Crowley’s five children who grew up on a farm near Conklin, Michigan. Life on the farm meant hard work, but Wayne managed to lighten the load by the mischief he perpetrated. Fortunate for those around him, he gradually outgrew this side of his nature and turned it into fun and friendliness.

Wayne attended Big Spring School near Conklin, but like many of his generation, he left school in the 10th grade to find a job during the Depression. He first worked on a farm because that’s what he knew, but he was eager to spread his wings, and nearby Grand Rapids provided the opportunity. He got a factory job at R.C. Allen, a company that made cash registers. It was a good fit for Wayne, and he ended up working there many years.

Before moving to Grand Rapids, Wayne had met Sadie Post who lived near his family’s home. Over time, they grew fond of one another and began to talk of marriage. However, Wayne’s parents advised him to wait until he was a little older before taking that big step. So, the day he turned 20, on January 14, 1938, Wayne and Sadie made their marriage vows at the home of their minister. What a day to celebrate!

The happy couple first set up housekeeping in Coopersville before moving to Grand Rapids. They found a house on Fairview NW and lived there until the mid 1950s. At that time, they had a house built on Covell, and it became the family home for their two wonderful children, Bruce and Elsie. The children grew up secure in the provision and rhythm of their father’s work and leisure. He was always home for supper at 5 PM, and he preferred to spend evenings at home with his family. When the kids were young, it became somewhat of a tradition for him to make breakfast for the family on Saturdays. He liked taking them on car rides and day trips and enjoyed playing cards with friends and family, particularly on weekends. On a daily basis, Wayne just did what needed to be done around the house.

By nature, Wayne was pleasant and even-keeled. He liked to come home and mow the lawn, work in his flower garden, tend the tomato plants, or tinker on cars. Truth is, Wayne spent a lot of time caring for his automobiles – cleaning, waxing, and keeping them tuned up. He rarely had to fix anything major because he bought a new car every year. To say Wayne loved cars was an understatement. He even marked time by them. When recounting events in his life, he referred to the period according to what car he had at the time. His cars provided better recollection of history than the calendar.

One of Wayne’s often-quoted phrases was, “It’s the first hundred years that are the hardest.” In other words, Wayne was the kind of man who took the long view of life: he was steady and well-planned. He lived in the house on Covell for over 50 years and was a faithful employee at his first job for nearly 45 years. He never had a credit card and never incurred debt, because he believed in paying cash for what he bought. For nearly 30 years, he kept a daily journal, faithfully writing the day’s events every afternoon. In addition, Wayne’s longtime membership in Richmond Reformed Church provided stability and encouragement for his family. Regardless of the changes in life, his faith was firm.

As times changed in his workplace, Wayne adjusted and moved on. He had advanced to foreman with R.C. Allen when the company started losing ground to new technologies. After more than four decades of diligent service, Wayne left the company but started working part time at Tom’s Service Station. The shop was just down the street from his house, and the walk there was just the beginning of a day that Wayne made all the more pleasant by his friendliness. He really enjoyed chatting with customers, and he quickly earned the respect of the younger employees who worked with him. Though his main responsibilities were that of an attendant, he had time to work on one of his favorite pastimes: cars. Wayne was on the job there for 16 years before his health forced him to retire.

Retirement gave Wayne all the more time to be around his grandchildren. He and Sadie took countless trips to the kids’ home in Fremont to watch them play in sporting events. From the time the children were toddlers, Wayne liked to play with them, and as they grew, he just enjoyed watching them mature. It truly made his day whenever they came to visit.

In 2004, Wayne began to experience health difficulties that meant he could no longer drive. Three years later, he was having more and more health concerns. In November 2007, he broke his hip and, as a result, spent several short stays in the hospital and at care facilities. He was under the care of the staff at St. Ann’s Home when he passed away on Saturday, March 1, 2008 with his family present.

Some might say Wayne’s stubbornness kept him going all of his 90 years. More likely, his care, determination, and sense of duty made him a strong provider for his family and the kind of man who made each day count.

Mr. Wayne M. Crowley was preceded in death by his sister, Marilyn Hunt. Wayne is survived by his wife of 70 years, Sadie; their children, Bruce and Linda Crowley of Fremont, Elsie and Jim Phillips of Allendale; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; brothers and sister Wallace (Dorothy) Crowley, Helen (John) DeMull, Ted (Janice) Crowley and several nieces and nephews. A service to celebrate Wayne’s life will be held on Tuesday, March 4 at 1 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Van’t Hof Chapel, 851 Leonard NW where relatives and friends may visit with his family from 11 AM until the time of the service. For those who wish, memorial contributions to St. Ann’s Home are appreciated. You may share a favorite memory about Wayne’s life or sign the online register by visiting www.lifestorynet.com