George William Crawford Jr.

George William Crawford Jr. passed away peacefully with his family by his side on May 28, 2017 at Mercy Hospital.  He was born May 4, 1927 in Boston to George William and Grace (McPhee) Crawford Sr.

George moved to Portland when he was four years old, attended Portland schools, and graduated from Portland High School in 1944.  He immediately joined the U.S. Navy, at age 17, and served our country during WWII aboard the USS Oklahoma City as a Signalman. He married Lorraine Gallant at Sacred Heart Church in Portland in 1948.

Upon his return to Portland George worked at Porteous, Mitchell, and Braun delivering furniture.  He then joined the Portland Police Department as a Patrol Officer and retired as a Detective in 1973 after 22 years of service.  Following his retirement from the police force he became a U.S. Federal Marshall and also drove for Regional Transportation. He retired as a U.S. Court Security Officer in 1997.

George was a kind man, always putting everyone else first.  He served his community in many ways.  As a Patrolman he spent a day protecting John F. Kennedy while he was campaigning for the Presidency.  He was featured on the cover of Look Magazine for capturing a 15 year-old Boy’s Training Center escapee. When the youth dove through a second story window, he managed to hold onto his leg for 20 minutes, preventing him from severe injury or death.

George was an avid sports fan.  He loved watching his children and especially his grandchildren play sports.  He was a member of the Benevolent Society, a Little League baseball coach, and a Communicant at St. Patrick’s Church.

George was preceded in death by:  his parents; wife, Lorraine Crawford; brother, Paul Crawford; sister, Marie Pike Moreau; and granddaughter, Lindsey Jean Sweeney.  He is survived by:  his son, Joseph Crawford and his wife Cheri of Derry, NH; son, Richard Crawford and his wife Michele of Topsham; daughter, Elizabeth Plant and her husband Roger of Gorham; son, James Crawford and his wife Janet of Gorham; daughter, Jean Sweeney and her husband Stephen of Portland; daughter, Donna Queen and her partner David Hemingway of Scarborough; 15 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; loving companion, Jacqueline Eastman of Portland; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

The family would like to thank the staff at Mercy Hospital and the VNA hospice staffs for their loving care and support.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in George’s name to VNA Home Health Hospice, 50 Foden Road, South Portland, Maine 04106 or the Mercy Hospital Memorial Fund, 144 State Street, Portland, Maine 04103

A memorial mass will take place at 10:00 AM on Saturday, June 10, 2017 at St. Anne’s Church, 299 Main St., Gorham, ME 04038 followed by interment at St. Hyacinth’s Cemetery in Westbrook.

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