Tommy Layne Crandall

Tommy was born on December 11, 1931 in Terlton, Oklahoma to John Wesley and Cecil Gertrude (nee Hicks) Crandall. He was born into the Great Depression which shaped his life as a resourceful individual finding purpose for every old board and bent nail he came across. His father, John, worked in the Oklahoma Oilfields so the family moved around quite a bit which resulted in Tommy creating an imaginary friend, Mot. Tommy and Mot had many grand adventures during his youth and travels. They also lived on a small farm near Shawnee, Oklahoma for a period of time which cultivated Tommy’s lifelong passion for gardening and raising goats and chickens. In his later years, Tommy proudly referred to himself as the “Old Goat”.

In 1950, just before his senior year in high school, Tommy and his parents moved to Davis, Oklahoma where he met the love of his life Amaryllis Marie Sweeten. Their romance blossomed quickly and they were married on July 30, 1951 in Oklahoma City. During the first few years of their marriage, Tommy worked as a roughnecker in the Oklahoma and West Texas Oilfields. Just as he had done as a child, Tommy and his young family moved around quite a bit to follow the work. Tommy desired a less nomadic and more grounded life for his young family so by 1961 he found employment with Baroid Oil Co. in Houston and then a couple of years later with Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in Beaumont, where he worked for 36 years. Tommy was very proud of his accomplishments at Goodyear and looked back on those years with great fondness.

Tommy and Marie settled in Sour Lake, Texas in 1963 where they raised their three children and lived until 2019. Tommy was a “jack of all trades” and he built the family home in Sour Lake with a little help from his two sons and his friend Wayne. He also started and successfully operated Crandall’s Refrigeration Co. from 1963 to 1975 and then Crandall’s Ice Co. from 1975 to 1996. Tommy was a faithful servant of God as a member of the Church of Christ and a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He loved the Lord and his family above all else and was a loyal friend to all those who knew him. Tommy’s greatest joy was spending time with his family and friends.

Tommy was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 71 years, Amaryllis Marie Crandall; his parents John and Cecil Crandall; his sister Leola Mae McCool; and his brother Donald George Crandall.

Those left to cherish his memory include his daughter, Karen Kasseroler and husband Larry of Lumberton; and sons, Andy Crandall and wife Kathy of Groves, and, Keith Crandall and wife Dana of Bartonville; his grandchildren Trey Crandall and wife Jennifer of Groves, Aaron Crandall and wife Mandi of Groves, Kaylynn Wolfford of Mont Belvieu, Kalina Gallier and husband Blake of Bevil Oaks, Larra Hanzel and husband Malcolm of Lumberton, and Christy McCort and husband Ryan of Indianapolis; and fourteen great-grand children, along with numerous extended family and friends.

A celebration of Life for Tommy will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 21, 2026 at Forest Lawn Funeral Home. The family will receive friends beginning at 10:00 a.m. prior to the service.