Wendell Carl Crumley

Wendell was born Wendell Carl Haynes, in Savannah, GA, to Elizabeth “Betty” Lois Kramer Haynes and her then husband, Angus Haynes, on April 21, 1943. When he was just a toddler, his mother married Clarence “Joe” Crumley, who adopted Wendell and his older brother Chris, and he became Wendell Crumley. He died peacefully on March 11, 2025, with his siblings by his side.

The young family moved to Iowa City, IA, then Pierre, SD until they settled in Lansing, MI in the early 1950s. Along the way, two more siblings arrived – brother Tom and sister Lisa. Wendell was predeceased by his parents. He is mourned by his siblings Chris (Judy) Crumley, Tom (Nancy) Crumley and Lisa Crumley, along with several nephews and great-nephews, and friends.

Wendell graduated from J.W. Sexton High School in 1961, where he was a wrestler. He later graduated from Michigan State University in advertising. He worked for many years at Paramount News Center, in both the Lansing and East Lansing stores.

Wendell was a unique person who lived an unconventional life.

He had a severe motorcycle accident that ultimately caused him to have his right leg amputated below the knee. Yet, after traveling the country as a vagabond, once he settled back in Lansing, he could be seen riding his bicycle all over town, often carrying heavy loads of topsoil and concrete to be used in his gardens. He loved growing things. Some of his favorites were sunflowers, morning glories and tomatoes.

He also loved tinkering with his vehicles, taking them apart and putting them back together again – or trying to. He had a fascination with anything automotive or mechanical, maybe due to his maternal grandfather’s auto repair business in Savannah. He had a fascination and fondness for Savannah and often returned there in his younger traveling days. He also spent some time in San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury District as a hippie in the counterculture movement there.

Wendell faced hardship in his life with resiliency and dry humor. He was almost never without his sketchbook or harmonica. His art and music seemed to carry him through life. He was a great Bob Dylan fan. Dylan’s music brought him pleasure – and comfort – in his last years. As did chocolate malts. He had a wicked sweet tooth and even during some of his most difficult times at the end, he enjoyed nothing more than a Culver’s chocolate malt while listening to Bob Dylan on his headphones. He was always one for life’s simple pleasures.

In 2017, Wendell had a disastrous accident that stripped him of the thing he valued most – his independence. He lived out his life in the loving and skillful care of many people at the Ingham County Medical Care Facility, also known as Dobie Road. In his irrepressible way, he adapted and thrived for many years there. We are grateful to everyone who looked after Wendell and provided such exceptional care, even when he challenged them, which he often did. We don’t want to overlook anyone but in these last few years, special acknowledgment and thanks is owed to Latalia, Rose and Heather for the gentle touch and dignity with which they treated Wendell. We are forever grateful. Similar acknowledgement and thanks to the Heart-to-Heart Hospice care team of Michael, Jen, Hannah and Austin, plus all the others we did not have the chance to meet.

Wendell was a gentle soul – unassuming, kind, funny, generous and, yes, sometimes ornery. Always a character and his inimitable self. He is missed already.

If you’d like to remember Wendell – or honor the amazing caregivers who tended him – feel free to donate to the Dobie Road or Heart-to-Heart foundations.