Harold Jay Crandell

    World War II Hero Passes Away                                        Heber/Overgaard mourns the passing of World War II veteran and local resident, Harold Jay Crandell. Jay was born in Heber, Arizona November 5, 1922 and passed away at his home on October 10, 2017.  Harold Jay was the son of the late Harold Jeremiah Crandell and Margaret Lovine Porter, also residents of Heber. He was preceded in death by, three siblings, Duane Crandell, Dorene Williams and Twila Hancock and his two sons, Bobby Herold Crandell, Senator Chester J Crandell, and a son-in-law, Roger Lee Cochran.     Jay married his sweetheart, Charlotte Ann Despain, March 12, 1942 in the Mesa, Arizona Temple. They celebrated their 75th Wedding Anniversary in March of 2017. February 6, 1943 Jay enlisted in the military and served his country for three years. At the time, Charlotte was pregnant with their first child, Margaret Ann, who was two years old when Jay returned from the military.  They had five more children after Margaret Ann, who married James Rhineheart, Chester J. who married Alice Harrison, Claudia Elizabeth who married Roger Cochran, Charlotte Yevet who married Reginald Tenney, Bobby Herald who married Cheryl Bracke, and Mary Jane who married Gerald Williams.  Jay and Charlotte have seventy grandchildren, one hundred-twenty-eight great-grandchildren, and eight great-great-grandchildren.  Among their posterity are writers, lawyers, carpenters, singers, teachers, principals, an Arizona State Representative and Senator, engineers, law enforcement officers, and a host of others.    During his military service, Jay was nicknamed Deacon, because of his high standards. Jay served loading bombs and depth charges for submarine patrol. He became part of the secret service. He had to sign papers saying that if he was caught divulging information that he could be shot without a trial. His squadron parachuted packages and huge containers filled with guns, money, and ammunition to the underground in France. His outfit, the Carpet Baggers, won the highest award the French Government gives for courage. It’s like our Congressional Medal of Honor. He received another commendation for bravery. He was on duty one night and a soldier pulled a pin out of a bomb. The young man stared at the bomb and said, “Listen to it tick.” Jay grabbed the pin and put it back in the bomb.  His quick thinking saved about four thousand people on that airbase. There were four squadrons and each squadron had a thousand people in the ground crews and aircrews. When Jay was asked about the incident he said, “I was just acting out of duty.”   After the war, Jay had several different jobs. He was a mechanic, a logger and drove school bus at Snowflake High School  while he finished his education. In summers he worked on Gentry Tower. Later he worked for Southwest Forest Industries as the Wood Yard Lead man. After 20 years, he retired from his full-time job in 1988, but he never stopped working until a couple of years ago when his health turned for the worse. Cattle ranching was a big part of Jay’s life.  The J-Y Ranch still runs cattle on the Dry Lake Range. Jay was instrumental in digging the first well in Heber and bringing electricity to the community.   Jay has been a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and has filled many callings such as Bishops’ Councilor, Stake Sunday School Superintendent, Ward and Stake Missionary, Gospel Doctrine Teacher, and Sunday School teacher and his favorite was as a Temple worker where he served faithfully for six years. Those who he home-taught were never without a visit or a phone call, even as late as October 2017. Even in his greatest pain, he thought of others.   Jay was a scholar of the scriptures, but most of all, he was a true Christian. Everyone knew him as a man with a generous heart.  When he was in eighth grade, Jay memorized the poem The House by the Side of the Road. Harold Jay Crandell is the embodiment of that poem.  He was truly a friend to every man he met.    Funeral services will be held at Heber LDS Church, Hwy 260, on Friday, October 20, 2017 at 10:00 am with a viewing at 9:00 am. He will be buried in the Heber Cemetery where he will receive the Military honors he so richly deserves.