of Maumelle, AR

November 18, 1929 - October 19, 2013

James Robert Crews, 83, of Maumelle, Arkansas died peacefully at Hospice Home Care in Little Rock, Arkansas October 19, 2013. He entered into eternal rest to join those loved ones who have preceded him in death; his daughter, Sue Redyke Doshier and her husbands Jerry Redyke and Rusty Doshier, his parents, Elbert and Allene Bucy Crews, his great granddaughter, Carly Elizabeth Crews, his father and mother-in-law, Donald and Doma McCluney, his brothers and sisters-in-law, Jimmy and Donna McCluney Champlin, Frank and Ruth McCluney Cominskey Wood, and Weldin Wimberely, a special aunt and uncle, Aubrey and Pauline Bucy Mooring.

He leaves to rejoice in his memory his wife, Mary of the home, a son, James Donald "J.D."(Mary) of Rector Arkansas and their children Paul and Stacy, Jeremy and Kim, Crystal and Craig, a daughter, Ann Marshall (Vernon) of Juneau, Alaska and children Slader and Kinsey, granddaughter, Molly Redyke and her son Parker Wright of Broken Arrow, OK, a daughter Robyn Dino (Mike) and son, Mario James, of Denver, Colorado, son, Robert David "Bobby" Crews who moved to Maumelle in July with his family Vicky, Wade, Seth, and daughter Emily of Harding University to be the caregiver for his father in his father's final months. Previously he had served as Youth Minister for the Eastside Church of Christ in Colorado Springs, Colorado where his wife was a employed as elementary principal at Pike's Peak Christian School. God sent Bobby and family as a special gift to give quality to his father's life when he had very little life left. Eight great grandchildren are left to carry on Jim's legacy. Also remaining is his sister, Ruth Wimberley of Jonesboro, Arkansas, niece, Dana Hayes and Lynn Wimberely, also of Jonesboro, nephew, Jim Champlin and family of Chicago, Illinois, and niece Katie Champlin Beatty (Simon) and family of Hanalei, Hawaii along with several grand nieces and nephews. A special cousin, Donald Crews of Houston, Texas (born two months after Jim) still remains along with numerous cousins and cousins-in-law.



Jim, as he was known in his later years, was born in Campbell, Missouri November 18,1929 moving to Rector, Arkansas in 1932 where he lived until 1957.

Jimmie, as he was known as a youth, was very active in all sports. He was a member of Rector's football and basketball teams during his high school years from 1946 through 1952, he was also a member of the Rector men's semi-pro baseball team that played throughout northeast Arkansas and southwest Missouri. Jimmie graduated from high school May1947 entering Arkansas State College the following week as the first member of his family to attend college.

Since he was the primary caretaker of his mother after his father's death in 1946, he had to finance his college career with various jobs while living on campus in Jonesboro. His main support came from his job at Hollingsworth Cleaners---his second full-time job as he had been a week-end "soda-Jerk" at Purcell Drug Store in Rector from the age of 12. Jim was vice-president of his freshman class and president of his sophomore class. He was a member of Arkansas State's baseball team 1947-1949. He was recruited and joined the Naval Reserves when a senior in High School. He was discharged so he could join the Arkansas National Guard in 1948. He also was a member of Arkansas State's R.O. T. C. program 1947-1948. Needing additional income, Jim accepted a night job with Ark-Mo Power in Rector commuting 1949-1950 until he received his B. S. in Business Administration August 13, 1950. During the same ceremony, his mother-in-law received her B. S. E in Education.

Jim married the love of his life Mary McCluney at the home of her grandparents, Claude and Ruth Simpson November 20, 1950 .Within two months, Jim and Mary were offered teaching positions at Leonard Elementary School which was a four- teacher school within the Rector system. Jim taught third and sixth grades, was principal and janitor, also occasionally the bus driver for field trips. During these months, Jim retained his night job at the Ark-Mo sub-station, being able to attend Saturday classes at Arkansas State.

After graduation, Jim retained his position in the Leonard School until he entered the postal service. He became a lay minister in 1952 serving several small Churches of Christ in the area preaching one sermon at four different congregations each month. In 1953, he accepted a position as the minister of the Marmaduke Church of Christ while retaining his position in the Rector Post Office. In 1957, the Canal Heights Church of Christ in Demopolis, Alabama hired Jim as their full time minister and he remained in that work until he entered graduate school.

Jim graduated from the State University of Iowa in 1963 with a M.A. in Hospital Administration and Public Health, serving his residency at the Veteran's Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. After graduation, he accepted the position of administrator of Lawrence Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. During his Arkansas career he served as administrator of Union Memorial Hospital, Eldorado, Siloam Springs City Hospital and Dr. Gray's Hospital, Batesville. Late in his career he returned to Arkansas to organize the opening of the first rehab hospital in northeast Arkansas. This facility Northeast Arkansas Rehabilitation Hospital was located Jonesboro, AR. Jim was responsible for marketing the concept to the physicians, obtaining certificate of need, overseeing the building of the facility, staffing and opening the hospital in 1988.

Other positions held by Jim were that of C.E. O. of the Escambia County Health Systems, Pensacola, Florida where he had the oversight of the country's three hospitals and the health clinics of the county. He served ten years as administrator and C.E.O. of Doctor's Regional Medical Center, Poplar Bluff, Missouri. During his tenure there, the hospital was owned by the physicians, Hospital Affiliate, and Republic Health. During these years, Jim served on various local, regional and state boards. Doctor's Hospital was HAI's stand alone hospital and Jim was chairman of their quality assurance program serving with a team of health professionals making inspections four times each year, he inspected hospitals in many areas of the U. S. enabling Jim to travel (coupled with his travels during his retirement years) to all states except Hawaii. After HAI was purchased by HCA, Doctor's Hospital continued under the leadership of the same officers of HAI which retained the hospital in Poplar Bluff as their only hospital now incorporated as Republic Health. Republic Health obtained many management contracts throughout the country and Jim's expertise was used as a "troubleshooter" for the company. As a family man, not wanting to be moved frequently resigned and accepted a position as Vice President of the Methodist Health System of Memphis, Tennessee. In this position Jim was given the responsibilities of overseeing several of Methodist's outlying hospitals. Missing "hands-on" hospital duties, Jim returned to work again as a hospital administrator at Parkway Hospital in Fulton, Kentucky before returning to Arkansas to finish out his years before retirement.

Jim was a board member of the Arkansas Hospital during the governorship of Winthrop Rockefeller. Many improvements in health care in Arkansas hospitals occurred during that time frame.
Jim was a member of the American Hospital Association, member and fellow of American College of Health Care Executives traveling annually to administer tests to aspiring fellows. Jim received awards as administrator of HAI's most improved hospital and also HAI's top achieving hospital in the 70's. Jim was a member of local, regional or state boards in Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Missouri .Jim was a very active Kiwanian throughout his working years and assisted in various programs especially sports-related programs.
Jim was a truly a "peoples" person. He never saw a stranger and he loved telling stories with very subtle punch lines. He had a dry wit and his sense of humor made him a joy to be around. Jim was an avid sportsman especially in his younger years hunting every type of game that flew or ran. He was also a mediocre fisherman and adventuresome boater and water skier. He was a dedicated golfer and hosted several tournaments in Poplar Bluff for H A I executives and physicians. He had only one hole in one but was on many winning golf teams during those tournaments. He enjoyed floating rivers and hosted several float trips on Current River when H A I board members met at Doctor's Hospital for board retreats. After retiring to Little Rock, his family owned a vacation home in Fairfield Bay for twenty years and 2013 was the first summer he has missed vacationing with his family there since 1990.

Jim and Mary traveled extensively after retirement. They traveled the Alaskan Highway during the 50th year celebration of its construction. In addition he made six more trips to Alaska making three different side trips through the state, traveling to many different area including Valdez and Denali. On Father's Day 2006 Jim was allowed to witness whale -watching episodes rarely seen by locals. His favorite areas were British Columbia, the Yukon, and Nova Scotia- plus anywhere West.
Jim and Mary were avid horseback riders and spent many happy hours riding together with their children.
Jim Became a Christian at the age of 12. He has been a faithful follower of Christ all of his life. God and family were Jim's two great loves. Funeral services for Jim will be conducted October 26th at 2:30pm at Pleasant Valley Church of Christ where he has been a member since 1989. Music will be provided by Jerome Williams and the services will be officiated by Roger Prickett and Nick Hamilton. Nick Hamilton will accompany the family to Rector where a local service will be conducted Sunday October 27th at 2:00pm at the 5th and Pine Church of Christ. Jim will be interred at the Woodland Heights Cemetery in the Crews plots and Roller Chenal will provide the comfort and service required.
Our deepest thanks are sent from our family to Sandy Goodwin-hospice volunteer, Vanessa Lewis, CNA and Cindy Robinson, CNA. All of these wonderful people have become so special during this time of Jim's illness.

Sign Guestbook

11 Condolence(s)