"Bill" Wilbern Owen Crowdis

Wilbern Owen "Bill" Crowdis, 74, of Duncan, Oklahoma, passed away on April 15, 2026.

Bill was born on April 7, 1952, in Thomas, Oklahoma. He was a member of the 1969 State Champion football team at Thomas High School and later graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. He married Rebecca "Becky" Hogue on January 4, 1975, and together they shared more than 50 years of marriage.

He came to Duncan to teach Industrial Arts at Duncan Junior High School and soon took a second job at Jones Monument Company, where he later transitioned to a full-time career spanning more than five decades. In 1989, he and Becky purchased the company and operated it together for many years. An artist and craftsman by nature, he worked with stone, wood, glass, and metal throughout his life. Through his innovation and high standards, he helped revolutionize the memorial industry. He was known for elevating monument design through advanced shape carving and three-dimensional sculpting techniques, pioneering photoblasting to sandblast photographic images onto granite, and setting a higher standard for installation by pouring deep concrete foundations beneath monuments to keep them standing straight for generations.

Bill was also deeply involved in his community. He was an Elder at West Side Christian Church, where he attended for nearly five decades, and he created the granite sign at the front of the church. He was a member of the Jaycees and the Duncan Noon Lions Club. He also served on the Duncan City Council, including a term as Vice Mayor, and was instrumental in helping bring the Simmons Center to Duncan.

Music was important to Bill. He was a drummer for most of his life and played with the band Oklahoma Crude, including opening for Reba McEntire in 1983.

Bill was known for his strong work ethic, his storytelling, and his sense of humor. He loved dogs and deeply enjoyed time with his grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Monica Ann Crowdis, and his parents, Leo and Faye Crowdis.

He is survived by his wife, Becky; daughter Cindy LaMonte and husband Jon of Atlanta, and their child Brett; son Casey Crowdis and wife Jennifer of Yukon, and their children Evander, Ryan, and Zoe; and daughter Natalie Sloan and husband Chris of London, and their children Trey and Inaya.

The family will receive visitors Sunday, April 19, at Whitt Funeral Home from 2:00-4:00 P.M. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, April 20, 2026, at West Side Christian Church in Duncan with Rev. Ron Motley officiating. Interment will follow in the Duncan Municipal Cemetery.

Online condolences can be made at www.whittfh.com.



 

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