Donald Bruce Crume

Donald Bruce Crume was born Mar. 22, 1942 in Roswell, NM to the home of Capitola (Lunsford) and Joe Allen Crume and died early on the morning of Nov. 21, 2021 in Portales.  Mr. Crume grew up in Farwell, TX where he finished high school.  While he was in high school, he worked as a projectionist at the Farwell theater, as well as helping his dad at his lumber yard.  After finishing high school, he went on to attend ENMU as an art major.  While studying there, he met Judy Vance, and the couple was married at the University Baptist Church in Portales on July 31, 1965.  His first job was in Santa Fe, where he worked as an electrician on a project to pump water from the valley to Los Alamos for the water to be used as a coolant for the labs.  In 1966 he was drafted and served in the Navy as  a Sea Bee for 2 years.  During that time he was stationed in Okinawa and then in Vietnam.  Following his discharge, he worked for Coors Brewing Co. for 20 years.  During that time he was sent to the Carolinas to work on the construction of a new plant.  When the company downsized, he became a project manager for a series of several different construction companies.  Mr. Crume retired in 2006, and a year later they moved to back to Portales.

While stationed overseas, he became interested in photography. He was a Renaissance man, having many talents.  He did some painting.  He became an excellent potter.  He enjoyed doing wood and metal projects, and silversmithing.  He remodeled various things.  Donald was so capable that whatever he saw that he needed to accomplish, he would figure out how to do it, and then just do what needed to be done.

He is survived by Judy, his wife of more than 56 years of their home; a daughter, Casey Crume Reynolds and her companion, Stephen Bertrand of Portales; a daughter-in-law, Irene (Mrs. Jason) Crume; six grandchildren, Elliott Reynolds, Victor (Jessica) Crume, Jacob Reynolds, Joe Crume, Samuel Bertrand and Lily Bertrand; and one great-granddaughter, Hazel Reynolds.  He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Jason Crume, three brothers, Bobby, Philip, and Dean Crume and two sisters, Linda Moore and Darlene Reeves.

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