Dale Craw

Jimmy Dale Craw “Dale,” 69, of Minersville, Utah, peacefully left his earthly body on Monday, September 21, 2026, surrounded by the people he loved most.

Dale was born on December 24, 1956, in Cedar City, Utah, to Jimmy Weldon Craw and Eileen Willyard Craw. He was the first of four children and grew up in Minersville, a place that would forever hold a very special piece of his heart.

Dale attended Minersville Elementary before graduating from Beaver High School. He loved wrestling and was well known for his sense of humor. Dale was a jokester in the truest sense of the word. It didn't matter if anyone laughed at his jokes—he would laugh at them himself and keep right on going. His laughter was contagious, and his ability to find humor in life was one of the many things people will remember and miss about him.

It was during his high school years that Dale unknowingly met his forever sweetheart. After Steven asked Chellie if she could go to a movie with Dale one night, their first date began what would become a lifetime of love, family, and memories.

Dale and Chellie were married on December 3, 1976, and were later sealed for time and all eternity in the St. George Temple on February 24, 1979. Together, they built their life and raised their family in the home they would forever call theirs in Minersville.

Dale found his passion in working with cattle, farming, and the family dairy. He loved the work, the land, and the life that came with it. Eventually, he began his own journey of purchasing cattle and a farm, while also joining his dad and becoming part owner of the family dairy. The farm became more than a place of work—it became the place where Dale spent much of his life raising his family and teaching his children the value of hard work, dedication, responsibility, and the pride that comes from earning something through your own efforts.

Dale devoted many years of his life to serving others. He served with the Minersville Volunteer Fire Department and as a Certified EMT, dedicating countless hours to learning and improving his skills so he could provide the best care possible to the people in his community.

If something needed fixing in Minersville, there was a pretty good chance Dale was going to be somewhere nearby trying to fix it.

He cared deeply about his community and was constantly looking for ways to make it better. Dale took great pride in Minersville and believed in leaving things better than he found them. He didn't just talk about making a difference—he rolled up his sleeves and did something about it.

One of his most recognizable contributions was the one-of-a-kind illuminated “M” on the mountain at the north end of Main Street, created to represent the town he loved so much. Over the years, Dale continued finding ways to add beauty, character, and pride to Minersville. From hand-crafted planters along Main Street to a large painted rock near the elementary school, his fingerprints can be found throughout the community.

And then there was the Pumpkin Fest.

Dale asked for the Pumpkin Fest to happen “one more time.” Six years later, that event has become a much-loved tradition, raising funds that are given back to families in need and to the community Dale cared for so deeply.

When Dale could no longer work as he once had, he found another way to serve. During the summers, he spent time at Minersville Lake, serving his county and doing what he loved most—meeting people, making friends, and finding ways to make things better. Through his work there and his friendship with Jen Marshall, he helped bring numerous improvements to the beautiful lake and continued making an impact on the community he loved.

But of all the things Dale accomplished in his life, his greatest pride and joy was his family. His children and grandchildren were his world.

Dale showed his love in the simplest and most meaningful way—he showed up. It didn't matter how far he had to travel or what activity was taking place. If one of his kids or grandkids was involved, Dale was there, cheering them on and letting them know they mattered.

And his grandchildren? They had a piece of his heart that belonged only to them.

He shared a special bond with each and every one of them, loving them in their own unique way. They were truly the light of his life. He loved being their grandpa, their supporter, their partner in crime, and probably, on occasion, the person willing to spoil them just a little more than their parents would have preferred.

Dale had a heart for people.

It was not uncommon for him to lend a helping hand to someone in need. He gave without expecting anything in return and often put the needs of others before his own. Whether it meant finding someone a job around the farm, opening a room in his home, or simply being there when someone needed him, Dale found ways to help.

He didn't need recognition for the things he did.

For Dale, taking care of people was simply who he was.

He was, in every sense of the word, selfless.

Dale leaves behind a legacy that cannot be measured simply by the things he built or the work he accomplished. His greatest legacy lives in the people he loved, the family he raised, the community he served, and the countless lives he touched along the way.

He leaves behind his beloved wife, Chellie, and their children: Christopher (Adrienne) of Minersville, Melinda (Mike) of Enoch, Makayla (Dan) of Winnemucca, Curtis (Michelle) of Milford, CJ (Amanda) of Troy, Texas, and Miranda of St. George; 26 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

He is also survived by his mother, Eileen, and his siblings, Steven (Naomi) of Minersville and Arleen of Minersville.

He was preceded in death by his father, Jim; his brothers, Keith (Fed) and Rod; and his sister, Kerry Lynn.

Dale may no longer be running around Minersville fixing what needs fixing, telling jokes that only he thought were funny, cheering from the sidelines, working the farm, or finding one more way to help somebody.

But the pieces of him he left behind are everywhere.

They are in the family he loved.

They are in the grandchildren who will carry his stories forward.

They are in the people he helped.

They are in the community he worked so hard to make better.

And they are in the little things around Minersville that will forever remind us of a man who didn't just live in this town—he gave a piece of himself to it.

Dale's work here is finished, but his legacy will continue through every life he touched and every person who carries a little bit of his love, laughter, stubbornness, generosity, and determination forward.

Until we meet again, Dad, Grandpa, husband, brother, friend, and one-of-a-kind Minersville original. You will be deeply loved, forever missed, and never forgotten.

Graveside services will be held Monday, September 28, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Minersville Cemetery.

Viewings will be held Sunday, September 27, 2026, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. and Monday, September 28, 2026, from 9:30–10:30 a.m., prior to services, at the LDS Church in Minersville, Utah.