John grew up in Chattanooga, TN, where he graduated from the Bright School and the McCallie School. He was passionate about sports, excelling in both varsity football and soccer. He earned his undergraduate degree at Southern Methodist University and went on to get his medical degree at the University of Tennessee in Memphis, after which he completed a Foot and Ankle Surgery Fellowship at the Campbell Clinic.
For more than 21 years, Dr. Crates was a valued physician at Plano Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center, providing outstanding compassionate care for his patients. He was a member of the American Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Society and a fellow of the Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. He previously served as Vice Chief of Orthopedics at the Medical Center of Plano, as well as served on the Executive Committee at Baylor Frisco Medical Center, where he performed surgery. He was also recognized by The National Registry of Who’s Who, named by D Magazine for “Best Doctors in Dallas” and honored as a Super Doctor by Texas Monthly. Dr. Crates was Foot & Ankle Consultant for the Texas Rangers Baseball Club since 2004, Foot & Ankle Consultant and Assistant Team Physician for the Frisco Rough Riders since 2003 and Foot & Ankle Consultant and Assistant Team Physician for the Dallas Stars from 2005-2008. Dr. Crates was also the Founder & CEO of Foot Innovations, a research & development and consulting company for orthopedic-related products.
John was a leader and friend among co-workers and showed a genuine interest in the lives of his patients. A devoted father, husband and friend, he touched the lives of countless others on a regular basis and was known for passionately standing up for his values. As one of his friends said, John “stood up for the right stuff no matter which way the wind was blowing.”
John was a talented musician who played acoustic guitar and bass in bands in high school, college and medical school. He loved golfing, fishing, hunting, grilling for his friends and watching a good sports game, but the biggest joy in his life was his family - his loving wife, Angela, and their daughters Chandler, Cameron and Campbell. Committed to his children’s schools, John served on the Board of Trustees at The Lamplighter School and for many years as the team physician for the Greenhill School football team. He was also proud to serve on the University of Texas Family Leadership Council where he was helping to launch an internship program. Others enjoyed having John around and appreciated his kind heart. He was the person to go to when you needed a true friend. His witty sense of humor and approachability made others laugh and feel at ease.
John was preceded in death by his mother, Gladys Hayes Crates, his father, Robert Cameron Crates and his brother, Robert Bruce Crates. He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Angela Tilley Crates; their daughters Chandler, Cameron and Campbell Crates; uncle, Daniel M. (Elise) Crates; cousin, Cameron C. Matthews; sisters-in-law Marisa Tilley Hammond, Lisa Tilley (Michael) Anderson; brother-in-law Rice Matthews (Michelle) Tilley, III; nieces Lucy and Samantha Leonard and Morgan Tilley and nephews Tripp and Parker Hammond and Rice Tilley, IV.
Memorial Services will be on Thursday, January 9th, at 3pm at Highland Park United Methodist Church. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent in honor of Dr. John Mark Crates to the Campbell Foundation, 1400 S. Germantown Road, Germantown, TN 38138 or made online using the memorial gift option at campbell-foundation.org.
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