Dale Calvin McCrum

Dale Calvin McCrum, 83, passed peacefully August 14, 2024 in Lubbock Tx after an extended illness. He was born on January 21, 1941 in Chickasha Ok. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Mary Hope (Butler) and 3 daughters; Tanya Ward (Jeff) of Lubbock, Tammy Campbell (Doug) of Tomball Tx, and Mickie Laws (Danny) of Lubbock; grandchildren Trevor Ward (Megan) of Lubbock, Trey Ward of Huntsville Al, Travis Ward (Brooke) of Lubbock, Robbie Campbell of Tomball Tx, Caitie Campbell of Tomball Tx, Ashley McCrum of Fredericksburg Va, McKendra Laws of Bryan Tx, and Teagan Laws of Lubbock. He leaves behind 5 great-grandchildren; Ava, Austin and Adelyn Campbell of Tomball Tx, Connor and William Ward of Lubbock; a brother Milton McCrum (Paula) of Seattle and a sister Suzanne Ratlief of Phoenix AZ along with a brother-in-law, sister- in-law as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Calvin Thomas McCrum and Mary Belle (Hudgins).

Dale spent his formative years in Chickasha OK attending school in Apache OK. His family later moved to Lubbock where he attended high school, graduating from Monterey in 1959. He met Mary Hope Butler when they were both working at Raff and Hall Drug Store in high school and they married right after graduation in May 1959. He began apprenticing in brick masonry in 1958 at 17 years of age. After marriage and graduation he enlisted in the army where he was a cook. He served from 1959-1961 and continued service in the Army Reserves until 1966. He remained in Lubbock where he raised his family. Dale loved working with his hands and took great pride in his brick mason skills for over 60 years. Dad was also a recovering alcoholic and celebrated 50 years of sobriety in April 2024. He wanted to help others who suffered from alcoholism and decided to return to school when he was 43. He graduated from Tech with his BS in family studies with a minor in substance abuse in 1987 and earned his Master’s in 1990 becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor in 1992. From 1987 until 1994 he was a counselor consultant and counselor through TTUHSC Department of Psychiatry and Southwest Institute for Addictive Diseases. He also served as a counselor for the Lubbock Faith Center and a Non-Residential Program Director for Managed Care. If dad wasn’t working you knew where to find him. He loved going to the Hub of the Plains to support other struggling addicts. Even in his final days as he was moved from the nursing home to an assisted living facility he was worried about how he was going to get to the Hub and who would make sure he could get there.

Dad always loved bricklaying though and frequently pointed out all of the buildings in Lubbock that he laid brick on. He was a frequent critic of brick jobs he didn’t do because he thought he was the best in town. His last major brick job was the last home he built for himself and Mary Hope finishing up when he was about 75 years old. He started building a barn but daddy had two speeds; slow and neutral. He was so slow, deliberate and methodical in everything he did that it took him forever to finish anything. Mother was getting irritated because daddy was taking so long to build the barn she was afraid she wouldn’t get a house. She finally said “you’re going to have to turn the barn into the house”. So he did. On a piece of paper he drew out the floor plans for the 2 story barnhouse. He built that house without a blueprint and laid every brick himself. He was especially proud of the arch work he did over the windows and doorways. Unfortunately he had to sell the home and property because he could no longer manage due to age and health.

Daddy was a no nonsense hardworking man. He would do anything to help one of his kids or a friend or neighbor. He had a dry quick wit and a repertoire of jokes. Dad delighted in telling and retelling his favorite stories and jokes, much to the amusement and sometimes chagrin of his family and friends. His hobbies included hunting, camping, flying small aircraft and playing musical instruments. He could not read music but had an ear for it and taught himself to play the guitar, banjo and harmonica. He could yodel with the best of them.

Daddy was a man of faith and actively involved at St Matthew United Methodist Church until his health slowed him down. He was a member for over 50 years. A memorial service will be held at St Matthew United Methodist Church at 5320 50th St. Lubbock Texas on Tuesday September 3, 2024 at 1:00 pm. Officiating will be Todd Sons, Pastor. The family will inter his cremated remains at a later date.

The family would like to thank Lakeridge Nursing and Rehab and Beehive Assisted Living for the care they provided dad in the final stages of his illness. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Hospice of Lubbock, the Parkinson’s Foundation or a local Alcoholics Anonymous Chapter.

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