Stephen Crandall

(From Knell Mortuary)

Stephen Gary Crandall, 78, Shell Knob, Missouri, passed away Friday, February 28, 2025. He was born June 8, 1946 to the late Vernie and Frances (Phillips) Crandall at the University of Missouri medical center in Columbia, Missouri. Raised in Carthage, Steve attended local schools and graduated from Carthage High School in 1964. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Central Methodist College (now University) in June 1968 and immediately enlisted as a seaman in the U.S. Navy.

After serving two years as an enlisted man, he was commissioned in 1970 and served as a logistics specialist in various ships, stations and operational staffs over the next 27 years. 

Then Lieutenant (junior grade) Crandall was married to the late Francene J. Wing in June, 1974. He received his Masters degree with distinction from the Pennsylvania State University in 1982. He was a combat veteran of the Vietnam War and saw service during our nation’s various crises and conflicts during this period in North Korea, Lebanon, the Middle East and Somalia. Capstone of his Navy career was his command in 1993 and 1994 of the Navy’s Logistics Force 5th Fleet (CTF-53) during which he headed the Navy’s logistics forces in the Middle East and horn of Africa region with some 10 ships, 15 aircraft and 3,500 officers and men under his command.

During his time in service, he lived in Anchorage, Alaska, Naples, Italy, Manama, Bahrain and various locations in the continental U.S. including San Diego and San Francisco, CA, Mechanicsburg, PA, Jacksonville, FL, and Virginia Beach, VA. He traveled all over the world, both aboard ship and with his family. Retiring from the Navy in 1997, he spent the next 6 ½ years as the Director of Material Logistics for Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co., the largest shipyard in the western hemisphere and the builder of all Navy nuclear aircraft carriers and many nuclear submarines. 

After buyout of the company by Northrop Grumman, he took early retirement and then spent the next two years working in the Middle East for some of his European friends providing logistics support to the Navy as the regional President and General Manager for the Malta-based Multinational Logistics Services, LLC. Finally retiring for good in 2005, he and his wife Francie moved to Table Rock Lake at Shell Knob. He was a member of the Military Officers Association, the U.S. Naval Institute, the Propeller Club of the United States, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Shell Knob Lions Club, which he served as president for two years. He served as a member of the Stone County Planning and Zoning Board for six years, during which time the board did a complete zoning of the county. He also served on the Shell Knob School Board for many years.

His wife Francie preceded him in February 2016 after nearly 42 years of marriage. He married Debi Duncan in January 2018, and they enjoyed over 7 years of retirement at Table Rock Lake while traveling extensively and enjoying their family and friends. 

He is survived by his wife Debi; daughter, Melissa (Rick) England of Litchfield Park, AZ; son, Skip (Kelly) Crandall of Mariemont, OH; and his four beloved grandchildren: Kade England, Rylee England, Emree Crandall and Sterling Crandall. He is also survived by his brother, Douglas (Pam) Crandall of Carthage, MO and 3 nieces.

Memorial services will be held at 10 am, Wednesday, March 5, 2024, at Grace Episcopal Church, Carthage, Missouri. Private family inurnment will take place at Park Cemetery, Carthage. The family will receive friends from 5-7 pm, Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at Knell Mortuary, Carthage. Memorial gifts are suggested to the Barry-Lawrence County Shell Knob Library in care of Knell Mortuary. Online condolences may be expressed through www.knellmortuary.com. Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Knell Mortuary.