Obituary of Sandy Crawford

July 11, 1952 - Calgary, Alberta

December 13, 2021 - Calgary, Alberta

Sandy Crawford, beloved husband of Ann Crawford (nee Burnard), of Calgary, AB, passed away on Monday, December 13, 2021, at the age of 69 years.

Sandy Crawford, beloved husband and soulmate of Ann Ruth Crawford (nee Burnard), of Calgary, AB, passed away on Monday, December 13, 2021, at the age of 69 years, after a valiant fight with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Born in Calgary, AB, on July 11, 1952, Sandy was raised in Saskatoon, SK, from the age of 4. In high school and university, he was a track and field star, competing inter-provincially. At the University of Saskatchewan, he was a proud member of the Ore-Gangue, a geological society on campus. Sandy graduated from university with a degree in Geological Engineering in 1975. Sandy married Ann shortly after graduation, and they moved to Calgary where he began a 40-year career as an exploration geophysicist with Gulf Canada Resources (ConocoPhillips). He enjoyed working on international projects in Russia, France, England, Australia, Algeria and Indonesia. The whole family enjoyed a two-year transfer to Denver, Colorado. Sandy was a member of the Foothills Nordic Ski Club, a regular attendee at the Calgary Folk Club and a vital member of the congregation of Symons Valley United Church in Calgary.  On three different occasions Ann and Sandy hosted Honens International Piano Competition participants. Sandy accomplished much through his life and was particularly proud of acting as the Chief of Timekeeping for Cross-Country Skiing events for the Calgary 1988 Olympics. Being in the outdoors was a passion for him - camping, hiking, canoeing, scuba diving, both downhill and cross-country skiing, and commuting to and from work on his bike.  He loved desserts of any kind (his favourite saying being “Life is uncertain, eat dessert first!”), and thoroughly enjoyed socializing, especially over good food and fine wine. He has knit many handmade projects infused with love for his children, great nieces and nephews and grandchildren over the years. For almost forty years, he was a choir member at Symons Valley United Church and was also a member of the Gulf Canada/Conoco Phillips Christmas Choir which sang each holiday season in downtown Calgary. He acted in nine Symons Valley Players’ theatre productions, playing a wide variety of roles.  Sandy and Ann loved to travel and have visited 90 countries in total, spanning every continent except Antarctica. He was a passionate Saskatchewan Roughriders fan, even when all around him were dressed in red! A loving father and grandfather, this amazing man will be most remembered for his outgoing, caring nature towards everyone (even strangers), his willingness to help others and his infectious smile.

Besides his loving wife, Ann, Sandy is survived by his two daughters and two sons-in-law, Colleen (Drew) Beausoleil of Sherwood Park, AB and Alayne (Chris) Crawford of Ottawa, ON; and his four grandsons, Alexandre and Antoine of AB, and Kieran and Harrison of ON. Sandy is also survived by his two sisters, Judy (Dave) Hannah of Saskatoon, SK, and Sheila (Jeff) Jongmans of Calgary, AB, as well as sister-in-law, Beth (Paul) Berg; brothers-in-law, Keith and Trevor Burnard (SK), and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends and work colleagues. Sandy was predeceased by his father, George Richard (Dick) Crawford and his mother, Lillian May Crawford (nee Boulter).

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, December 18, 2021. Family and friends who are unable to attend in person are invited to join Mr. Crawford’s service streamed live (www.symonsvalleyuc.com/live-streaming-from-symons-valley/) on the day of the service. For those who are unable to view live, a recording of the service will be posted. Condolences, memories and photos can also be shared and viewed here.

If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to the Canadian Lung Foundation, 502-885 Meadowlands Drive, Ottawa, ON, K2C 3N2, Telephone: (613) 569-6411, www.lung.ca. or to Symons Valley United Church, 38 Kincora Rise NW Calgary, AB Phone: (403)274-2361 www.symonsvalleyuc.com/donate/.

In living memory of George Crawford, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street North, Calgary, AB T2E 2V6, Telephone: 403-243-8200.