Vance Crowson

Vance Carey Crowson, 63, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, passed away with his wife and children by his side on April 22, 2022.

Better known as Bubba or Papa Crow, Vance was born on September 21, 1958 in Alton, Illinois. Vance met his wife, Lois, while they were both in their early 20s. They were married shortly thereafter. Lois and Vance were together for 41 years during which they were blessed with four wonderful children: Jonathan, Miranda, Jennifer, and Jessica. The family continued to grow with seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. They brought him great happiness and delight.

Vance was a loving and supportive husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend to many. His thirst for education and learning were apparent to those around him, with his self-taught knowledge often serving as a source of encouragement to those around him. He was a man of great faith and spirituality, who loved to learn about the religions and cultures of others. Vance enjoyed numerous hobbies and endeavors including avid readership in a variety of different topics and formats, astronomy, home & DIY projects, photography, making chainmaille jewelry & accessories, leatherwork, playing computer & video games, planning & building computers, and working on cars. He had a love for the outdoors, often going on fishing expeditions and sightseeing. Additionally, Vance thoroughly enjoyed watching science fiction shows like Doctor Who, Lost in Space, Red Dwarf, Star Trek, X-Files, and Ancient Aliens Secret Files. He was a very dedicated fan of superhero movies and action films, and would always be readily available to share his opinions of them. Vance could always be found with headphones on listening to the sounds of his favorite bands: RUSH, Audioslave, Linkin Park, Seether, ZZ Top, 80s Rock, and Classical Piano Symphonies.

Vance's career started in the automotive industry as a mechanic and transitioned into the oil refinery industry where he worked for over 30 years. With only a high school diploma, Vance proved he was never shy of vast knowledge, a willingness to learn, and an incredible amount of drive. During his refining career, he started as an operator and progressed into various supervisory positions over operations, ultimately reaching the title of an operations superintendent. His family was proud of his commitment to learning throughout his career including trainings and certifications on petroleum, safety, and industrial firefighting.

First impressions of Vance often resulted in people seeing a tough exterior, but beyond that, they often would learn of his willingness to help others, his tenderness, and his way of incorporating levity and humor into any of life's situations. His pathway was filled with countless instances of compassion and humanity. He was a devoted journalist and documented his life on a daily basis. He was a talented writer with the mind of a poet and philosopher. His influence and kindness will live on through his wife, children, grandchildren, and those who were fortunate enough to cross paths with him. His impact on the world is timeless and absolute.

He is survived by his beautiful wife of 41 years, Lois Crowson of Cheyenne, Wyoming; son, Jonathan Crowson (Nina Castaneda) of Las Vegas, Nevada; daughter, Miranda Gray (Joshua Gray) of Waterloo, Illinois; daughter, Jennifer Jeffries (Francisco Jeffries) of Mascoutah, Illinois; daughter, Jessica Crowson (Thomas Parson) of Vancouver, Washington; grandchildren, Tanaya Martinez, Viviana Jeffries, Gabriella Jeffries, Olivia Gray, Esme Gray, Luella Gray, and Gatlin Jeffries; and a great-grandchild, Adelena Martinez. Vance passionately loved his father in-law and mother in-law, Robert and Lucile McDaniel of Godfrey, Illinois. He was close to his in-laws, nieces, and nephews. Vance is also survived by his father, Ross Crowson of Grafton, Illinois, and multiple siblings and their families. He is predeceased by his mother, Gladys Crowson; and his brother, Howard (Lee) Crowson.

"One day, I shall come back, Yes, I shall come back. Until then, there must be no regrets, no tears, no anxieties. Just go forward in all your beliefs, and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine. Goodbye, my dear." William Hartnell, Doctor Who.

From Lois, the love of your life: "Who cares if one more light goes out? Well I do." -Linkin Park-
I will love you always, Vance.

And from your kids: Jonathan, Miranda, Jennifer, and Jessica: we hope you're "dreaming of a genie with light, brown hair."
We love you, dad.

In lieu of flowers, it was Vance's wish that any memorial donations or tributes be sent to the love of his life, his widow Lois, to help assist her during this difficult transition. Donations are welcome at Paypal (@LoisCrowson) and Cash.app/$LoisCrowson. Vance's final medical expenses are unfortunately vast, and any contributions can be made at GoFund.me/d2892554. In addition, the family invites you to join and share memories of Vance via Facebook.com/VanceCrowsonMemorial/