James Crowder

James Randal Crowder, 68, passed away on Friday, April 17, 2026, surrounded by the people who loved him most.

Born on December 28, 1957, in Barstow, California, James lived life on his own terms—with a strong spirit, a generous heart, and a deep love for his family. He proudly served as a veteran and later worked as an engineering technician at CPI, always keeping busy and taking pride in what he did.

James wasn’t the kind of man who sat still for long. He enjoyed having a drink, telling stories, and staying connected to his Irish roots. One of his favorite things was going to Scarborough Faire with his sister and running buddy, Victoria—those were the kinds of moments he truly lived for. And when James walked into a room, you knew it—his presence was big, his personality even bigger, and he had a way of making people feel it.

But more than anything, James loved his family. His granddaughters—Gracie, Anna, and Hirie—were his whole world. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for them. He was the kind of man who would give you the shirt off his back without thinking twice, always putting others before himself.

He passed with his daughter, Yesenia Crowder; his son, James Crowder; and his sister, Victoria Howard-Driver, right there with him—just as it should be.

James is survived by his children, Yesenia Crowder and James Crowder; his sister, Victoria Howard-Driver; his granddaughters, Gracie Rocks, Anna Rocks, and Hirie Rocks; his stepmother, Glenda Crowder; his niece, Terri Tablante; his nephews, Sean Howard, and Stephen Howard; and his stepsisters, Karen Brown, Tammy Cobble, Ashley Holmgren, Tina Clay, and Kim Clay.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at The Back Porch Kilgore. Services have been entrusted to Horn Family Funeral Home and Cremations of Daingerfield.

If you knew James, you knew his heart. He will be missed in the quiet moments, in the laughter, and in all the little things that made him who he was—but he won’t ever be forgotten.