Thomas "Tom" Earl Crum

Thomas “Tom” Earl Crum, age 75, of Littleton, Colorado passed away on January 29, 2023, from natural causes, peacefully in his sleep.

Tom, a long-time resident of Newcastle, Wyoming was born on January 15, 1948, in Hot Springs, South Dakota to Dave and Lorraine Crum. He graduated from Newcastle High School in 1966 and later received his bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Wyoming (UW). He was also active as a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity where he met his lifelong friend, Bill Clare of Nevada. After graduating from the University, he enlisted in the United States Army and worked as a laboratory medic in Vietnam.

After completing his tour in Vietnam, he was stationed in Knoxville, Tennessee where he met his wife of 37 years (later divorced), Sandra “Sandi” Carson. Once he completed his contract with the Army, Tom and Sandi moved to Laramie, Wyoming and he received his master’s degree in Administration (UW). They then relocated to Cheyenne, where he taught biology at Carey Junior High. Laura, their daughter and only child, was born in Cheyenne, in 1976. Tom, Sandi, and Laura also lived for a short time in Casper, Wyoming where Tom worked for Don’s Mobile Carpet.

In 1980, the Crum’s generational store burned down. Because of this tragedy, Tom brought his family back to his hometown to help his father, Dave, establish Crum’s Department Store again. He faithfully worked to rebuild and support the store until 1997. After the store closed, he and his wife, Sandi, lived in Elko, Nevada, and Cheyenne, Wyoming, both working for Corral West Ranchwear.  Tom and Sandi eventually moved back to Newcastle and bought and operated the Cap N’ Bottle for several years until his retirement in 2011.

If anyone knew Tom, if he wasn’t at work, he would be on the golf course! His daughter, Laura, remembers the fun summer days riding in the golf cart and sometimes “driving” it for her daddy and his friends. Tom was also involved with the community in various organizations: he was in the Lions Club, on the Weston County School Board, and he was a volunteer for the fire department for many years. Tom loved and appreciated the small town community of Newcastle, the home of his heart.

As Tom approached his later years, he couldn’t live alone and moved to Littleton, Colorado to be close to his daughter and her family. It was for the best as he was able to be surrounded by his grandchildren, who loved him immensely. Tom was especially close to his granddaughter, Maria, who spent many hours teaching him about God’s love. Through her guidance and that of Father Daniel Nolan, Tom was received into the Roman Catholic Church on the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, July 2022.  He faithfully received the sacraments after his entrance.

With Tom’s passing, he leaves behind his daughter, Laura (Anthony) Comstock, and grandchildren, Matthew, Joshua, Maria, Hannah, Isaac, Dominic, Gabriella, Therese, and Mary-Jacinta. He also leaves behind his older brother Dave (Mary) Crum of Casper and his younger brother Richard (Linda Johnson) Crum of Spearfish, SD. He also leaves his niece, Jennifer (Doug) Freeling of San Marcos, California, his niece, Stacy (Troy) Crum-Duran of Denver, and his nephew, Dave M. (Elisa) Crum of Casper. Tom, of course, leaves numerous friends that he considered family, Jeff (Donna) Silbaugh, Doug (Lee) Hughes, Homer Hastings, of Newcastle, Jim Stephens of Helena, Montana, and Carol Swanson-Frisch also of Montana. He was preceded in death by his parents Dave and Lorraine Crum of Newcastle and his best friend, Denis Swanson, also of Newcastle.

Services will be a high Requiem Catholic Mass at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Littleton on Tuesday, February 21 at 11 am. Recitation of the rosary will begin half-an-hour before Mass. The burial will be at 1:30 pm at Ft. Logan and the reception will follow at the church at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Tom’s memory to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund at www.VVMF.org and/or the University of Wyoming Alumni Association at www.uwyo.edu. Tom will surely be missed.