Lenvil attended the University of Florida under the G.I. Bill after his service in the U.S. Navy and earned his degree in Business Administration. While in college, Lenvil juggled his studies (he was always surprised and delighted to have passed his courses) with being a husband to Mary and a father to Michael, Sherri, and Jeanne (Dean came along later). He also found time to serve in the Florida Blue Key, the university’s oldest and most distinguished leadership organization. While a student, Lenvil lived with his family at the Florida Veterans Villages, or “Flavets”, which was housing created for student veterans on the campus grounds, and which he managed for the university while living there.
After graduation, Lenvil moved his family to Sarasota, where he hit the ground running. Always wanting to be busy and productive, he worked at Electro-Mechanical Research, Inc. (EMR) and Maas Brothers department store in managerial and human resources positions, and did accounting work for small businesses in his spare time in the converted carport at our small house in Carolina Estates. After that, he joined the staff at Sarasota Memorial Hospital and worked as Comptroller for several years. However, Lenvil always wanted to be his own boss and call his own shots, and he wanted to be involved in a field in which he could actually see the results of his work and that would endure over time. This led him to consider a career in building construction. He studied for his General Building Contractor’s licensure exam at night and on weekends after he came home from his day job at the hospital. A career in construction turned out to be a perfect fit for his personality, as it allowed him to oversee a project from the ground up, and once a building was completed, he could move on to a new one. He was never bored and never still! His portfolio of projects consisted of residential homes, apartment communities, and commercial office spaces.
Lenvil was a proud University of Florida alumnus and a devoted fan of the Florida Gator football team. Watching the game on a Saturday with his eldest son, Mike, was their tradition for decades, and Lenvil cherished that time together. Even though Lenvil would explode when the Gators fumbled the ball during the last two minutes, causing them to lose a close game, he was right back there in front of the TV the following week to support them. While a student at UF and a member of the Florida Blue Key, Lenvil helped to organize its annual homecoming celebration, the Gator Growl, and enjoyed attending for many years after he had graduated. Several years ago, he was gifted a pair of University of Florida Crocs, which he was rarely without, and he wore them until his final days.
In his middle age, Lenvil began to enjoy some well-deserved leisure time by traveling around the country with his wife, Mary, other family members, and longtime friends. Those trips were frequently taken in their RV and he would plan their itinerary so that they could stay at various RV parks around the country, especially in some of the beautiful national parks, in the Smoky Mountains, and at various music festivals. He was very social, and enjoyed sitting outside the camper and meeting other fellow travelers! For many years, they also made pilgrimages to Branson, Missouri to enjoy its shows with some of his favorite performers.
Lenvil very much loved his wife and children, but he had so much more love to share. He was very close to his seven brothers and four sisters, and adored all of his nieces and nephews and their children. It was so important to him to remain close with them after his own beloved siblings had passed. He also had a love for animals and almost always had a pet (or two) in his life. His most recent fur babies, Laci and Penny, brought him so much joy and he really doted on them.
Lenvil was grateful for many things, but mostly for living a long and healthy life with professional accomplishment that he could be proud of, and one that he shared with a loving family that had the utmost respect and admiration for the man he was. He left this life with no regrets.
Lenvil is survived by his wife, Mary Cornell Crews; his son Michael Crews (Anita); his daughter Sherri Crews Tsonas (Constantine "Dean"); his daughter Jeanne Crews (David Cassidy); and his son Dean Crews (Michelle); his granddaughter Olivia Tsonas, his granddaughter Alana Tsonas, his granddaughter Skyler Crews, his granddaughter Vivienne Crews (Sean Pena), his granddaughter Naomi Crews and his great granddaughter Isla Crews Pena.
Lenvil was preceded in death by his father Joseph Crews and his mother Arrie Rhoden Crews; his sister Eva Wheeler; his sister Ada Dubberly; his brother Ernest Crews; his brother Emory Crews; his brother Clyde Crews; his sister Marie King; his brother Vernon Crews; his brother Otis Crews; his brother Paul Crews; his brother William Eldridge Crews and his sister Emma Jean Morell.
A visitation for Lenvil will be held Saturday, May 4, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Robert Toale and Sons Funeral Home at Palms Memorial Park, 170 Honore Ave, Sarasota, FL 34232. A funeral service will occur Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 2:00 PM, 170 Honore Ave, Sarasota, FL 34232. A committal service will occur Saturday, May 4, 2024 at 3:00 PM at Palms Memorial Park, 170 Honore Ave, Sarasota, FL 34232.
