Ted J. Crawford

Ted J. Crawford, age 89, of Hays, Kansas, passed away on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas. He was born October 27, 1936, to Ralph C. and Ellen (Calkins) Crawford. He married Cecelia (Kreutzer) on October 2, 1956, in Hays, Kansas. She preceded him in death on September 2, 2021.

Ted started working for OkMar-Berexco in 1954 and continued working in the oil fields throughout his life. He worked for his son, Jeff, for a few years before retiring in 2020. Ted and Cecelia lived in Palco and Zurich before moving to Hays in 1964. Ted grew up north of Victoria, Kansas, attended school in Victoria, and was a graduate of Victoria High School.

Ted was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church and Saint Joseph Knights of Columbus Council No. 1325, both of Hays. He enjoyed fishing, golfing, and attending his grandchildren’s activities.

Survivors include his children, Jeff Crawford and Donna Weigel, Gorham, KS; Deb Smith and husband, Mike, Plainville, KS; and Laura Thomas and husband, Mark, Topeka, KS; his brother, Lee Crawford, Russell, KS; his sister, Patsy Dreiling, Catharine, KS; his brothers-in-law, Nick Kreutzer, Bloomington, IN, and Francis Kreutzer, Ellis, KS; his sister-in-law, Elizabeth Kreutzer, Ellis, KS; his grandchildren, Andrew Malleck (Casey), Aaron Crawford (Taylor), Adam Malleck (Marah), Cole Smith (Katie), Audrey Dougherty (Tyler), MaKayla Parton (Kelby), Austin Crawford, Michael Malleck, and Jonah Smith; and 16 great-grandchildren.

Ted was preceded in death by his parents, Ralph C. and Ellen Crawford; his wife, Cecelia Crawford; his son, Jerry Crawford; his infant son, George Michael Crawford; his sister-in-law, Shirley Crawford; and his brothers-in-law, LaVern Dreiling and Clifford Kreutzer.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 A.M. Monday, September 28, 2026, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 18th and Vine, Hays, Kansas, with Father Nick Parker as celebrant. Burial will be in Saint Joseph Cemetery, Hays, Kansas.

A vigil service will be at 7:00 P.M. Sunday, conducted by Deacon Bill Meagher, followed by a Knights of Columbus service conducted by Saint Joseph Council No. 1325 at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays.

Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Sunday at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays and from 9:00 to 10:00 A.M. Monday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials payable to Wild Trust (Kansas Wildlife and Parks) for youth programs, in care of Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 East 22nd Street, Hays, Kansas 67601.

Condolences can be emailed to clineschapels@gmail.com or left in the guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com.