Haskell Crabtree

Haskell Crabtree, age 85, died April 18th. He was a veteran of WWII. Haskell loved his family, his dog Cassey and enjoyed baseball and gardening. He is survived by his beloved wife Mary of 53 years, dear father of James (Trish), Glen (Christine), Dewayne (Lynn), Terry (Laurice) Randy, Jack (Kimberly); grandfather of 17, great grandfather and great-great grandfather of many, and his dgt.-in-law Judy Crabtree. He was predeceased by his son Haskell Lee. Visitation Sunday April 22, 2012 from 2-9pm at Resurrection Funeral Home, 40800 Hayes Road, Clinton Twp., MI, Funeral Service Monday April 23, 11:30 am, instate 10:30 am.

Haskell Crabtree was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, he possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. He had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and he was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Haskell always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Haskell was an individual who enjoyed life’s challenges.

Haskell was born on October 7, 1926 at the family home in Henlawson, West Virginia. His parents were Ervin and Bell Crabtree. Haskell was raised in Shamrock, West Virginia. Always able to express himself well, Haskell possessed strong interpersonal skills. He was optimistic in his outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in his communication. Armed with a great wit, Haskell was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

Blessed with a balanced attitude, Haskell was able to relate well with others. His occasional role as family mediator gave him the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. Haskell was raised with five siblings. He had three older sisters, Addie, Verlee, and Sarah, younger sister Delores, and a younger brother, Fred. Haskell had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

As a young child, Haskell showed his creative ability in many ways. He was outgoing and animated. Haskell enjoyed new activities and pursued a variety of interests. He took part in baseball, bowling, and cards. In his spare time he liked working on cars and fishing.

Known to others as a focused, logical, open-minded and somewhat driven individual, Haskell was able to utilize these qualities to succeed in high school. His curious nature was spurred by his ability to maximize his personal learning style through employing a hands-on approach. He was good with facts and had an excellent memory. He graduated from Mt. Gay High School. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers.

Friends and acquaintances found Haskell an easy man to get to know, and those close to him would often praise his open, practical style of communication and relaxed approach to life in general. Haskell was uncomplicated and straightforward in his relationships, which allowed him to accept people for what they were. Later in life, his best friends were his sons.

On July 25, 1958 Haskell exchanged wedding vows with Mary Cline at the pastor's home in Switzer, West Virginia. Haskell was attentive to Mary's feelings, and he charmed Mary and others with his gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, Haskell was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.

Very much like a kid himself, Haskell identified with the inquisitive and creative side of his children’s personalities. He was able to direct his energy and spontaneity towards helping his children acquire added common sense skills. Haskell was blessed with eight children, seven sons, Lee, James, Glen, Dewayne, Terry, Randy, and Jack and one daughter, Joyce. They were also blessed with 17 grandchildren, Lee Jr., Vicky, Tommy, Kenneth, Ruthann, Genie, Michael, Christine, Joyce, Daniel, Shawn, Sarah, Katelyn, Stephine, Dillian, Christopher, and Julia.

Haskell was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around him. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, Haskell’s strengths included being able to think on his feet. He could be a leader who sought impact for his decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, Haskell was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. He was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. Haskell could multi-task, and he was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing him to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in his work environment. His primary occupation was a machinist. He was employed for 35 years at Diamond Die.

Haskell was a veteran of the Navy. Haskell was a cool thinker who could handle himself well in a crisis. Haskell served aboard a naval vessel from 1943 to 1946 and was stationed at Norfolk, West Virginia. He achieved the rank of Seaman 2nd Class V6. He received several awards including a WWII Victory Medal. He showed leadership qualities and could make tough decisions when he was called upon to do so.

Haskell enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. He had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that he did. He put this creativity toward all of his pastimes. His favorite pursuits were working on cars, houses and playing poker. He was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Because he liked to take risks, Haskell was a perfect match for athletics and exercise. He was enthusiastic and confident about these activities. Haskell was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were baseball.

Haskell was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. Haskell’s favorite was Cassey, a Yorkie. They were best friends for eight years.

When Haskell’s retirement finally came in 1998, he was well prepared. He used logical analysis of his retirement options in order to ensure his retirement would be fulfilling. Still, he was able to easily adapt to possible changes and enjoyed just having fun and being relaxed.

Haskell passed away on April 18, 2012 at Medilodge of Richmond in Richmond, Michigan. He is survived by his wife Mary of 53 years, father of James (Trish), Glen (Christine), Dewayne (Lynn), Terry (Laurice), Randy, Jack (Kimberly); grandfather of 17, great grandfather and great-great grandfather of many, and his daughter-in-law Judy Crabtree. Services were held at Resurrection Funeral Home in Clinton Township, Michigan on Monday, April 23, 2012. Haskell was laid to rest in Roseland Park Cemetery in Berkley, Michigan on Monday, April 23, 2012.

Haskell was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If Haskell had a theme song written about him, it might well have been “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” He enjoyed his life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Haskell Crabtree.