Doyle Lee Crandell

Doyle Lee Crandell passed away in Meridian, Idaho with his family at his side on January 5, 2018. He was born in Independence, Mo., on Nov. 18, 1926, to Kenneth K. and Jessie Louise Crandell, the oldest of four children. Shortly after his birth, his mother Louise was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Doyle was cared for by his dear aunt, Stella Fairbanks, for the next two years until Louise was released from the TB sanitarium. In 1936, Kenneth and Louise moved their family to the Sandpoint area.

Doyle attended school in Ponderay, Kootenai and Sandpoint High School. While he was attending high school he decided to quit and join the Navy when Farragut naval base opened. After six weeks of training he was given a medical discharge. It was too late to return to finish his high school year so he decided to jump on a tug boat out of Washington which was headed to Alaska. He worked as the cook until he returned later in the year. He went back to Sandpoint High and received his diploma in 1947. After graduating Doyle received his draft notice from the Army and was off to Ft. Benning, Ga. He shipped out to Germany after training and remained there for two years. His stories of Army life and the adventures he had in Germany were interesting to say the least. He was very proud of his service in the Army. He returned to Ft. Lewis, Wash., where he was discharged in September 1952.

In the spring of 1953, he stopped at Cox Implement in Sandpoint and was introduced to an employee named Frances Beauchamp. On their first date Doyle showed up with a freshly harvested rabbit and asked Frances if she would cook it for him. Having passed the culinary portion of dating, Doyle decided Frances was the one for him. They were married on May 29, 1954. Three children, Jacquelyn, Barry, and Cathleen were added to the family.

Doyle was working for Pack River Lumber Company doing construction work after he graduated from high school. His tenure there was interrupted by the Army. Once he returned from his military duty Pack River gave him back his job. He retired from Pack River after 40 years of employment.

Doyle was an avid hunter and fisherman. He spent many a successful elk season on the Lolo Pass hunting with his friends. One of his biggest hunting joys was drawing for and killing a full curl bighorn sheep. He was very proud that he got to be with his two grandsons, Ryan and Doyle, when they both got their first deer. His final elk was harvested on his 79th birthday with a muzzle loader while hunting with his son and grandson. Many trips were made to Kootenai Lake, Canada for ling, Koocanusa for blue backs, or just fishing the local lakes and streams for whatever was biting. He held a commercial fishing license for Lake Pend Oreille when fishing was abundant. In recent years, he spent many days drowning worms on Lake Pend Oreille fishing with his buddy Glen. He passed that love onto his children and grandchildren. There wasn’t any day better than spending time in the outdoors with Dad or Grandpa.

Doyle was one of the founding members of the Sandpoint Motorcycle Cowboys. He said there was nothing better than to be riding his Harley Davidson. He was a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and the Elks. He also belonged to the AFL-CIO, the Sandpoint Gun Club, and the Bonner County Cattleman. Growing vegetables, fruits, nuts and anything else that looked edible was one of his passions. Many friends and neighbors were the beneficiary of his gardening skills. There was never a bad time for Doyle to engage in a card game called Pennies with family and friends. Hours too many to count were spent playing and through the years anyone who married into or became part of the extended family were offered a seat at the game table. Even though only pennies were up for grabs, Doyle loved winning.

Doyle leaves behind his wife of 63 years, Frances; his children, Jacque (Ron) Rowley, Barry (Judy) Crandell, and Cathy Crandell; his grandchildren, Anali and Ryan (Lily) Rowley, Jessica (Kyle) Cromer and Doyle (Ashley) Crandell, Lacey (Kasey) McFetridge, Brandee Ege and Jason Woolum. He also is survived by 2 2/3’s great-grandchildren, Jarrod and Wyatt Cromer and Austyn Shrader-Crandell. Also surviving is his brother, Dennis (Marilyn) Crandell. And lastly, he leaves behind his faithful four-legged companion Cooper.

He was proceeded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Louise Crandell; and his sisters, Beverly Morrison and Kay Agar.

At his request no funeral services will be held. He will be interned at the Idaho Veteran’s Cemetery in Boise, Idaho, at a later date. Accent Funeral Home in Meridian, Idaho, is handling the arrangements. If you would like to leave some thoughts or stories please do so at accentfuneral.com. If you would like to make a donation in behalf of Doyle we ask that you donate to the Idaho Veteran’s Cemetery to cover expenses for veterans who are in need.