Ernest L. "Cotton" Crosby departed this earth late Thursday evening on October 28, 2011 following a courageous battle with Alzheimer's and cancer.
Born on April 25, 1929, in Marlin, Texas, he was the only son of Ernest C. and Mamie Ray Johnson Crosby.
As the story goes, he was not particularly fond of school and convinced his parents to sign a waiver allowing him to drop out of high school and enlist in the US Navy on June 26, 1946 at the age of seventeen. When honorably discharged on April 29, 1948 he held the rating of Builder H (Heavy Construction) Third Class, USNR-R. After the Navy, he returned to school and completed the requirements for his high school diploma.
On July 6, 1949 Cotton entered a sheet metal worker apprenticeship and in the following years became a true artist in the trade. He was initiated into Sheet Metal Workers Local Union #67 on March 2, 1952 where he remained a member until his death. He was highly respected for his work ethic, his attention to detail, and for his master craftsmanship. Following his retirement in 1986, he owned and operated Crosby Enterprises machine shop specializing in custom design milling. His primary hobby was working on cars and car racing which he followed for as long as possible. In his younger years he worked on several pit crews and Friday nights would find him at the old Austin Speed-O-Rama racetrack doing what he loved.
He married his sweetheart, Bobbie J. Whitaker, on August 5, 1950. Their union was a love match and proof positive that opposites attract. They were married 56 years, 7 months, and 15 days when Bobbie passed in 2007. He never fully recovered from the loss. Of their union three children were born: Cathy, Richard, and Joe.
Cotton was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest C. Crosby and Mamie Ray Johnson Crosby Mayfield.
He is survived by his daughter and two sons, one granddaughter, three grandsons and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 10:00 on Wednesday morning, November 2, 2011 at Harrell Funeral Home, Austin, TX, with burial in Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery.
Source: Harrell Funeral Home, Austin, Texas
Born on April 25, 1929, in Marlin, Texas, he was the only son of Ernest C. and Mamie Ray Johnson Crosby.
As the story goes, he was not particularly fond of school and convinced his parents to sign a waiver allowing him to drop out of high school and enlist in the US Navy on June 26, 1946 at the age of seventeen. When honorably discharged on April 29, 1948 he held the rating of Builder H (Heavy Construction) Third Class, USNR-R. After the Navy, he returned to school and completed the requirements for his high school diploma.
On July 6, 1949 Cotton entered a sheet metal worker apprenticeship and in the following years became a true artist in the trade. He was initiated into Sheet Metal Workers Local Union #67 on March 2, 1952 where he remained a member until his death. He was highly respected for his work ethic, his attention to detail, and for his master craftsmanship. Following his retirement in 1986, he owned and operated Crosby Enterprises machine shop specializing in custom design milling. His primary hobby was working on cars and car racing which he followed for as long as possible. In his younger years he worked on several pit crews and Friday nights would find him at the old Austin Speed-O-Rama racetrack doing what he loved.
He married his sweetheart, Bobbie J. Whitaker, on August 5, 1950. Their union was a love match and proof positive that opposites attract. They were married 56 years, 7 months, and 15 days when Bobbie passed in 2007. He never fully recovered from the loss. Of their union three children were born: Cathy, Richard, and Joe.
Cotton was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest C. Crosby and Mamie Ray Johnson Crosby Mayfield.
He is survived by his daughter and two sons, one granddaughter, three grandsons and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 10:00 on Wednesday morning, November 2, 2011 at Harrell Funeral Home, Austin, TX, with burial in Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery.
Source: Harrell Funeral Home, Austin, Texas
Ernest L. "Cotton" Crosby departed this earth late Thursday evening on October 28, 2011 following a courageous battle with Alzheimer's and cancer.
Born on April 25, 1929, in Marlin, Texas, he was the only son of Ernest C. and Mamie Ray Johnson Crosby.
As the story goes, he was not particularly fond of school and convinced his parents to sign a waiver allowing him to drop out of high school and enlist in the US Navy on June 26, 1946 at the age of seventeen. When honorably discharged on April 29, 1948 he held the rating of Builder H (Heavy Construction) Third Class, USNR-R. After the Navy, he returned to school and completed the requirements for his high school diploma.
On July 6, 1949 Cotton entered a sheet metal worker apprenticeship and in the following years became a true artist in the trade. He was initiated into Sheet Metal Workers Local Union #67 on March 2, 1952 where he remained a member until his death. He was highly respected for his work ethic, his attention to detail, and for his master craftsmanship. Following his retirement in 1986, he owned and operated Crosby Enterprises machine shop specializing in custom design milling. His primary hobby was working on cars and car racing which he followed for as long as possible. In his younger years he worked on several pit crews and Friday nights would find him at the old Austin Speed-O-Rama racetrack doing what he loved.
He married his sweetheart, Bobbie J. Whitaker, on August 5, 1950. Their union was a love match and proof positive that opposites attract. They were married 56 years, 7 months, and 15 days when Bobbie passed in 2007. He never fully recovered from the loss. Of their union three children were born: Cathy, Richard, and Joe.
Cotton was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest C. Crosby and Mamie Ray Johnson Crosby Mayfield.
He is survived by his daughter and two sons, one granddaughter, three grandsons and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 10:00 on Wednesday morning, November 2, 2011 at Harrell Funeral Home, Austin, TX, with burial in Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery.
Source: Harrell Funeral Home, Austin, Texas
Born on April 25, 1929, in Marlin, Texas, he was the only son of Ernest C. and Mamie Ray Johnson Crosby.
As the story goes, he was not particularly fond of school and convinced his parents to sign a waiver allowing him to drop out of high school and enlist in the US Navy on June 26, 1946 at the age of seventeen. When honorably discharged on April 29, 1948 he held the rating of Builder H (Heavy Construction) Third Class, USNR-R. After the Navy, he returned to school and completed the requirements for his high school diploma.
On July 6, 1949 Cotton entered a sheet metal worker apprenticeship and in the following years became a true artist in the trade. He was initiated into Sheet Metal Workers Local Union #67 on March 2, 1952 where he remained a member until his death. He was highly respected for his work ethic, his attention to detail, and for his master craftsmanship. Following his retirement in 1986, he owned and operated Crosby Enterprises machine shop specializing in custom design milling. His primary hobby was working on cars and car racing which he followed for as long as possible. In his younger years he worked on several pit crews and Friday nights would find him at the old Austin Speed-O-Rama racetrack doing what he loved.
He married his sweetheart, Bobbie J. Whitaker, on August 5, 1950. Their union was a love match and proof positive that opposites attract. They were married 56 years, 7 months, and 15 days when Bobbie passed in 2007. He never fully recovered from the loss. Of their union three children were born: Cathy, Richard, and Joe.
Cotton was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest C. Crosby and Mamie Ray Johnson Crosby Mayfield.
He is survived by his daughter and two sons, one granddaughter, three grandsons and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 10:00 on Wednesday morning, November 2, 2011 at Harrell Funeral Home, Austin, TX, with burial in Cook-Walden Capital Parks Cemetery.
Source: Harrell Funeral Home, Austin, Texas
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