June 28, 2021
A remarkable man with an amazing legacy left us early in the morning of June 28, 2021. No words can describe William Leonard (Len) Crawford. Always loving caring ready to have fun with his favorite people his family, friends and the many people he employed as an independent logger for over 46 years. His logging career started at Salt Spring Island in the late 1930's. He and his family moved to log in Blind Channel in 1940. Later a partnership Crawford Logging Co Ltd with his father was formed. At the age of 16 Len owned and operated his tug and barge transporting equipment and goods from Shoal Bay to Vancouver, BC. When not working the barge cod fishing took place. Len obtained private timber at Bickley Bay, BC at the early age of 23. He then formed his own company Len Logging Ltd. In 1963 he purchased property at the head of Fanny Bay, Phillips Arm. Thurlow Logging Ltd became a subsidiary company to log additional timber in the same area. Len sold the property to BC Forest Products in 1966. He continued logging around the Thurlow Islands area. Throughout all his years moving his camp 26 times he became familiar with many historic methods of logging: steam donkey with for-and-aft road, the Tyler Line, dozer logging with wooden spar and arch, sky lining, A-frame logging, skidder logging and finally truck logging with steel spar. With the sale of the property a waterfront home in Campbell River and a 264 acre ranch were bought. At the farm in Black Creek registered Charolais cattle were purchased from the UBC farm. In 1959 Len took up another venture, flying. He always said it was the scariest achievement he took on. His accomplishment was rewarded with the purchase of a new Piper Super Cub. Flights were flown with CF-LKN to supply his logging camp with groceries supplies and parts for equipment repair. Pleasure trips were taken to and around Chilko Lake where cabins were built with his hunting and fishing buddies Jack Innes and Jack Schibler. In 1979 CF-LKN was replaced with another factory built Piper Super Cub CF-LGN. Len proudly spent 40 years and over 10,000 hours flying without an accident. He spent years hunting with friends Bill Davis and Harold Chickite enjoying every moment with them. Len retired from logging in 1989 to his waterfront home of 50 years. He was predeceased by his father Dave Crawford, mother Alberta Mae (Dolly) Crawford, brother Bobby and son Teddy. Len leaves behind his wife Rose of 56 years, two daughters Leiana (Ken), Kelly (Brian), 4 super grand children Roman, Laurie, Brianna and Shayna and many people who always enjoyed his story telling of days gone by. Traveling extensively to places around the world with his family at his side good memories have become very precious. He wrote his legacy for all to enjoy in two books 'The Way It Was' and 'The Changing Times' the personal stories of life of an independent logger on the BC coast from the 1920's to 1984. He was an amazing man with an amazing life much loved by all who knew him. He will be dearly missed. At Len's request there will no funeral service.
The family sends our warmest deepest heartfelt thanks to the doctors nurses and staff in the emergency ward in the Campbell River hospital. Your immediate thoughtful caring response to help our husband father and grand father will always be remembered.