James Clifford Crowder Sr.

retired funeral director, founder and owner, James Crowder Funeral Home, La Marque, Texas, died August 4, 2024, at age 94. Crowder attended Landig Mortuary College in Houston and worked at Malloy & Son Funeral Home in Galveston as an ambulance driver, funeral director and assistant manager. With his first wife, Ann, they grew the business together, expanding across Galveston County with locations in La Marque and Dickinson. After Ann’s death, Crowder and three of his sons expanded once more to Webster before he retired in 2003.

Crowder received the Distinguished Service Award from the La Marque Junior Chamber of Commerce. After serving as chamber president, he was elected mayor of La Marque. His tenure as mayor led him to his next endeavor as La Marque City councilman, where he received the Outstanding Leadership Award from La Marque Chamber of Commerce and began his bid for his second term as mayor. He was again recognized for outstanding citizenship by Knights of Columbus. Crowder served as president of the Rotary Club and continued to participate in several civic organizations. In 1993, Crowder made another bid for political office and was elected mayor of Tiki Island. He has been a member of the board of directors of Gulf National Bank (now Texas First Bank) since 1983.

Crowder is survived by second wife Betty; sons John, James Jr. and Walter; stepson Erik; 15 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.