Woody Crutchfield

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Due to an outpouring of support from the community, the location of Woodys service has been changed. A gathering on Monday evening from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. will still take place at the Ransford Collon Funeral Home in Caro. Events on Tuesday, August 13, 2018 will now be held at the CARO HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM. Woodys family will be present at the auditorium on Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 1:00 p.m. Woody Crutchfield of Caro, age 73, passed away on Wednesday, August 7, 2019. Woody was born April 13, 1946 in Saginaw, the son of the late Roy Clyde & Barbara Louise (Draper) Crutchfield. He was raised in Jackson and graduated from Jackson High School with the Class of 1963. In his high school years, Woody was a championship swimmer, excelling especially in backstroke, and held a school record for decades. Following graduation, he attended Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Woody possessed an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age and owned several businesses before joining the family business, Draper Chevrolet in Saginaw. In 1975, he was introduced to his future wife, partner, and friend, Stacy Simon, and the couple wed on June 7, 1980 in Williamston. Woody would later leave his position as general manager at Draper in 1983 to follow a dream that united his business mind and love for the game of golf in his purchase of the Caro Golf Club. He became a fixture of the course where he also coached the Caro Varsity Boy's Golf Team for many years, retiring from the business in 2016 to pursue his varied interests. In his earlier years, Woody enjoyed sailing on the Saginaw Bay and road rally car racing. Perhaps his most fulfilling hobby was coaching swimmers of the Caro Swim Club and Girls Varsity Swim Team, positions he and Stacy held for twenty-six years. Woody believed in having a good vocabulary and the value of a home cooked meal and instilled those principles in his family and swimmers. He was a fervent reader and was the current president of the Caro Area District Library. Woody was also a member of the Institutional Review Board for Covenant HealthCare in Saginaw as well as the Caro Charter Commission. He enjoyed cooking and loved to try new recipes. He was an avid Bridge player, Detroit Tigers baseball fan, listened to music of all kinds, and performed in over a dozen community plays in Caro. Woody had a brilliant mind and remarkable memory paired with an unassuming personality that will be missed by many. Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of thirty-nine years, Stacy Crutchfield of Caro; four children, Tiff Crutchfield of Ann Arbor, Laura (Dennis) Zender of Ann Arbor, Dr. Parker (Dr. Allison) Crutchfield of Kalamazoo, Whitney (Brandon Hemmings) Crutchfield of Brooklyn, New York; Tiff and Laura's mother, Carolyn King; three grandchildren, Jack and Georgia Zender of Ann Arbor, Julian Crutchfield of Kalamazoo, and an additional grandson due to arrive shortly; half-siblings, Roy (Barbara) Crutchfield of Illinois, Kimberley Crutchfield of Wisconsin; sisters-in-law, Pamela (Rick) Sandelin of Brighton, Karen Rothberg of Denver, Colorado; brother-in-law, Sheldon (Melanie) Simon of Tierra Verde, Florida special friends, Susan Holder and Eddie Crosby; Bridge partner, Bill Dupuis; many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, Woody was preceded in death by one sister, Barbara Crutchfield. In keeping with Woody's wishes, cremation has taken place. A celebration of his life will be held at the CARO HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM on Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. with Elder Jerry Bernhardt officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and at the CARO HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM on Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 1:00 p.m. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorial contributions to the Caro Area District Library or the Caro High School Girls Varsity Swim Team. Visitation Information Date: Monday, August 12, 2019 Time: 5:00 pm End Time: 8:00 pm Ransford Collon Funeral Home Address: 989-673-2175 | Map The family will receive friends at the Ransford Collon Funeral Home on Monday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and at the CARO HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM on Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 1:00 p.m. Service Information Date: Tuesday, August 13, 2019 Time: 1:00 pm Caro High School Auditorium Address: 301 North Hooper Street Caro, MI 48723 IMPORTANT UPDATE: Due to an outpouring of support from the community, the location of Woody's service has been changed. A gathering on Monday evening from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. will still take place at the Ransford Collon Funeral Home in Caro. Events on Tuesday, August 13, 2018 will now be held at the CARO HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM. Woody's family will be present at the auditorium on Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 1:00 p.m.