Obituary of Mitchell Douglas Crawford

CRAWFORD, Mitchell Douglas Mitchell D. Crawford, 34, the beloved son of Terry and Connie Crawford went home to be with our Lord on November 3, 2011 at his home in Bentonville, Arkansas. He was born in Ocala on March 21, 1977. Mitchell graduated from Forest High School in 1995 and received his BS in Finance from the University of Mississippi in 2000, then spent one year in the MBA program. Many friends, teachers, scout leaders, and church members fondly remember him through his involvement in community and college activities. Mitchell was preceded in death by his Mother Connie Crawford in 2001. He is survived by his loving wife, Shanna of Bentonville AR; his daughter, Connie "Paige" Crawford of Highland IL; father and step-mother, Terry and Cindy Crawford of Ocala; stepbrothers, Michael Nabers of Gainesville; Scott Nabers of Lousiville, MS; and stepsister, Heather Fatigate of Ft Lauderdale; his Aunt Mary Jones of Ocala; Uncle Roger and Aunt Reidi Lott of Orlando; cousins, Lana Gray Paradise Valley AZ; Rick Conant Orlando; Greg and Cody Conant Destin, Jimmy Lott and Lauri Lott; Orlando, and Lindi Fitch of Baltimore, MD. Mitchell worked for Kraft Foods as a category sales manager on the WalMart sales team in Bentonville, AR, and had been with Kraft for 10 years, starting as a regional sales rep in Wilmington, NC. He loved the outdoors, was an avid fisherman, and duck hunter; leading to his love of Labrador retrievers. During college he worked as a dog trainer for Mike Stewart at Wild Rose Kennels in Oxford, MS, and was very involved with training "Drake", the first Ducks Unlimited mascot. With his dog and best friend "Tucker", Mitchell enjoyed countless hours of training and hunting during Tucker's lifetime. He was an avid sports fan and athlete, playing on various athletic teams in college and then in Bentonville, he loved following Ole Miss and KC Chiefs Football. During the last few years he participated in the annual Ole Miss football fantasy camp for older Rebel fans along with his Dad. Mitchell was an Eagle Scout, a Vigil member of Order of the Arrow, participated in the World Scout Jamboree in Korea, the US National Jamboree, and the Philmont Scout Ranch experience with his Dad in 1993. He was member of First Baptist Church in Bentonville, and was increasing his spiritual life daily through his 5 year battle with lymphoma. He never stopped believing he would overcome the beast; cancer, and was as an inspiration to his family, many friends, doctors, nurses, and all those he met on his journey. He fought the good fight, and never gave up. A memorial service, to celebrate Mitchell's life will be held at 10 AM Saturday, November 12, 2011, at First Baptist Church, 2811 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala, FL, with Dr. Edward D. Johnson officiating, In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Mitchell's memory to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, 7077 Bonneval Rd. Suite 103, Jacksonville, FL 32216; The Salvation Army P.O. Box 3628, Ocala, FL 34478, or the charity of your choice. Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services, 910 E. Silver Springs Blvd., is in charge of local arrangements.