Roger Gale Crase

Roger Crase died in El Paso Texas on March 28, 2026 after a short illness. Roger was
born at home on August 20, 1951 to Ethel and James Crase in Crase’s Branch
Kentucky. He grew up the third youngest of 9 children and was a standout in baseball
and basketball through high school graduation. He moved to Stone Mountain Georgia
after graduation where he worked for Hormel meat packing company before being
drafted into the Army in 1971. During his time in the service, he served as a Military
policeman in Japan where he met his future wife, Vicky Crawford. While in the Army he
played basketball on the All-Japan team and traveled for tournaments around Japan
and to Hawaii. After his discharge and Vicky’s graduation from college, they moved to
Stone Mountain Georgia and a few years later to Port Angeles Washington. In
Washington Roger worked as a tree cutter—one of the most dangerous jobs in the
woods. After their daughter Laminta was born, Roger and Vicky moved to El Paso,
Texas in 1979. Roger graduated from trade school for HVAC and went to work for
Federal Civil Service at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, first as a generator
tech and then as the supervisor at one of the test facilities. When an opportunity arose
for a job in the Warheads division of DOD, he moved to working with explosives,
missiles and bombs. He loved his work in Warheads and cherished the friends he
made in that division.
Upon retirement, Roger and Vicky traveled the country in their RV, often with their
granddaughters and dogs. The loves of Roger’s life were his wife, daughter,
granddaughters, family, friends, his animals and Kentucky Wildcats basketball, not
necessarily in that order. He was a devoted family man, hard worker and a loyal friend.
Roger was known for his sense of humor, work ethic, love of animals and no-nonsense
version of common sense.
Roger is survived by his wife of 51 years, Vicky Crawford Crase, his daughter Laminta
(Mindy) Bradford (Christopher), his beloved granddaughters Cassandra and Kalliope,
his brothers Bob Crase (Phyllis), Charles Crase, James Crase (Ann), Ken Crase, his
sister Sue Crase, brother-in-law Rick Crawford (Patricia), uncle Tom Crase, aunt
Frances Everidge and numerous nieces and nephews. Also, the people he considered
his “adopted” children Diana, Danny and Eric.
He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Dorothy Jones, and brothers Bill Crase
and Don Crase.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 O'clock A.M. on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the Letcher Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at the Letcher Funeral Home Chapel.