John Matthew 'Matt' Crawford

DAYTON — John Matthew "Matt" Crawford, 86, of Dayton, died at the Kalispell Regional Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2006 from injuries caused by a fall at his home. Matt was born Aug. 11, 1919, in Ida Grove, Iowa, to Clyde C. and Nellie Adelia "Dea" (Lundblad) Crawford.

Matt graduated from Ida Grove High School in 1937 where he lettered in football and track. He spent two years studying engineering at Iowa State University in Ames and joined Sigma Chi fraternity before entering flight training school.

Serving from 1942 to 1945 he earned the rank of Lieutenant, U. S. Army Air Corps, and was co-pilot of a B-24 Liberator in the 867th Squadron of the 494th Bomb Group (Heavy) in the Pacific Theater earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal.

Matt married Marjorie Coryl McIntyre at her parents' home in Ida Grove on May 4, 1943. Ann Louise, was born on her mother's 25th birthday on Aug. 31, 1944. After receiving an honorable discharge from active service Matt worked with his father at Crawford Elevator. Catharine Coryl "Tappy" was born July 12, 1946.

After his father's death in 1947 Matt continued to run the business. In 1970 he and Marjorie moved to Dayton on the edge of Flathead Lake. Matt liked to call himself a practical engineer. He repaired, refinished, and refurbished — he was a talented handyman, carpenter and inventive builder in wood and stone. He loved people and was everyone's friend.

After Marjorie died in 1989 Matt traveled thousands of miles by airline and auto to visit family and friends. In 1991 he discovered the computer and started writing about his life experiences growing up in Ida Grove in the 1920s and '30s. From memories of his service in WWII, he wrote "Dear Walter, Don't Fly Too High or Too Fast" in 1993. The title came from an excerpt of a letter his pilot, Walter Bachman, received from his mother.

Walter and Matt had "buzzed" Ida Grove during flight training. Walter located Matt 50 years later after which Matt began attending reunions of the 494th Bomb Group yearly.

In 1999 Matt and Dolores (Martins) Smith were married at his home in Montana. Matt served two years as President of the 867th squadron of the 494th Bombardment Veterans Group. In October 1999 he joined fellow B-24 pilot, Tom Cartwright, whose plane had crashed near Hiroshima in WWII, on a weeklong mission of peace to Japan. They met with Shigeaki Mori, an historian and a delegation of peace ambassadors and media at the Peace Memorial Park.

Dolores died in 2002. Matt and Ebony, his companion Schnauzer he called his Navigator, began to travel extensively. He completed many projects to beautify his home and he continued writing. The first edit of his second book, "Why Me and A B24," was completed on the day of his death.

Matt is survived by his daughter Ann and husband Edson Howard of Geyserville, Calif., and grandson Michael Howard of San Francisco; daughter Tappy and husband Larry Hultgren, granddaughter Jennifer and husband Todd Conover, grandson Jeffrey Hultgren and wife Cindy; great-grandchildren Jacob and Derek Conover and Sydney and Samantha Hultgren, all of Ida Grove, Iowa.

Matt was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother, his sister Helen Lorraine (Crawford) Andresen, his wives Marjorie and Dolores, and great-grandson Andrew Hultgren.

A celebration of Matt's life was held Aug. 13, at his home in Dayton.

The family suggests memorials to the BCIG Scholarship Fund, c/o Tappy Hultgren, 1118 Valley View Drive, Ida Grove, IA 52445; the Abu-Bekr Shrine Temple Transportation Fund, Box 3347, Sioux City, IA 51102, or the Ida County Historical Society, c/o Conley Wolterman, 501 Zobel Lane, Ida Grove, IA 51445.

Johnson Mortuary & Crematory was in charge of arrangements.