James Gayden Crane

Jim was born on August 10th, 1946, in Hope, Arkansas to Bill, and Edith Crane. He grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas where he attended Little Rock Central High School before going to college at Ouachita Baptist University. While attending college at OBU Jim played on the football team where he made a close bond with his teammates who would go on to become lifelong friends.

After college Jim joined the Army as a Military Police Officer. While stationed at Fort Polk, Leesville, Louisiana he met Linda Johnson whom he married June 6, 1970. Jim served in Vietnam as a MP convey escort platoon leader. After his service in the Army he attended Sam Houston University working toward a graduate degree in Criminology and Corrections. Later he worked in Leesville/Vernon Parish as a Juvenile Officer on the police force. In 1974 he and Linda moved to Baton Rouge where he became an agent with State Farm Insurance. It was a role he would hold until his passing. Jim saw his service to the State Farm policy holders as

one of his life callings. He was known to say, "If you give people good service, they will stick around. We must fulfill our promises to them."

After losing their daughter Mandy Crane to Cystic Fibrosis in 1978, Jim and Linda became founding members of the Louisiana chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Jim served as the chapter board president of the Louisiana/Mississippi Cystic Fibrosis Foundation chapter until he was granted the title of President Emeritus in 2026.

Jim was the father to 5 children, Mandy, Kyle, Hunter, Brady, and Jamie. He was also lucky enough to be the grandfather to Caroline and James.

Jim was predeceased by his parents, Bill and Edith Crane, and his children, Mandy, Hunter, and Jamie Crane. He is survived by his wife, Linda Crane, sons, Kyle and Brady Crane, daughters in law, Kathleen Mocklin, and Kristen Crane, grandchildren, Caroline and James Crane, sister, Ora Sue Hamby, nephews Chris Harr, Brice Nosal, Chuck and Rusty Hamby and niece Jenae Wiggly and God Sons Sean and Brian Garrison.

Jim was proud of his military service, career with State Farm and had a profound faith in and love for Jesus Christ.

Relatives and friends are invited to the Chapel of Rabenhorst Funeral Home, Government St., for a visitation on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 from 6:00PM until 8:00PM. Visitation will resume on Thursday, June 18, 2026 beginning at 9:00AM until the service begins at 10:00AM. A burial is to follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory.

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers memorial donations be made to the Cystic Fibrosis.

Foundation, 10101 Siegan Lane, Suite 2A, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70810