Clear, 58° F
Steven Randolph Cranford, 71, of Powell, Wyoming, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, July 21, 2023, surrounded by his family, after a long battle with AML Leukemia.
Steve was born Sept. 30, 1951, in Houston, Texas, to Geraldine (Van Dyke) Cranford and Oran Albert Cranford Jr. Steve had a pretty idyllic childhood, spending his summers at his grandpa’s trout farm, camping with his fellow Boy Scouts or riding bikes with his three younger sisters.
Steve’s early school years were spent at Holy Ghost Catholic School and then on to Bellaire High School in Dallas. When Steve turned 18 he joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed on the aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga. His job aboard ship was as an aerographer’s mate. After his time in the Navy he attended flight safety school where he obtained his private pilots license and flight instructors license. He later went on to also get his A&P Mechanic license.
Steve had always wanted to move out West, so he took a job as a ground school-flight instructor at Spearfish Airport in Spearfish, South Dakota. While living there he met Diane Renea Couch at church. They were married on Sept. 29, 1979. Together they have four children, Amy, Daniel, Maryanne and Michael.
Steve loved flying and teaching. Early in their marriage he worked at Sky Ranch for Boys near Camp Crook, South Dakota. The job of mentoring and teaching troubled young men to fly brought him a lot of joy.
Steve worked many jobs in his life but found the most fulfillment being self-employed and working with his hands. He was a skilled craftsman and spent many years building custom furniture, restoring antique furniture and eventually building custom coffins. He started two local businesses, Cranford’s Historic Furniture Preservation Studio and Coffins of the West.
Although he found great joy in his work, he was the proudest of his role as father and husband. Steve could often be found working in his shop but always made time for people who might stop by to chat. He made himself available to anyone who needed a listening ear or a bit of Godly advice. His encouraging words, thoughtfulness and wisdom will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Steve was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife Diane of Powell, his children Amy (Tyler) Schiltz of Green River, Wyoming; Daniel Cranford of Powell, Wyoming; Maryanne Hickman of Douglas, Wyoming; and Michael Cranford of Powell, Wyoming; his four grandchildren, Logan, Blake and Gabe Schiltz and Anneliese Hickman; sisters, Lucinda (Charles) Fisher of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Susan Price of St. Louis and Peggy (Robert) Crawford of Columbus, Missouri.
Services will be held at Charity Baptist Church in Powell on Saturday, Aug. 5 beginning at 10 a.m.
