Charles “Chuck” Anthony Crawford, Jr. passed away on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at the age of 80.

Chuck was born on February 12, 1946, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Charles and EleanorCrawford. He graduated from Louisiana State University in 1969 with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree. He was drafted into the U.S. Army that same year and served during the Vietnam War, servicing communications equipment in Okinawa, Japan.

Chuck worked for more than 40 years as a landscape architect, living and working in St. Petersburg, Florida; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Sardinia, Italy; Houston, Texas; Memphis, Tennessee; New Orleans, Louisiana; Bend, Oregon; and Dallas, Texas. He worked hard and in great detail on designs for public spaces, resort amenities, and zoo exhibits. For many years, before architecture plans were drafted on computers, he created large blueprints by hand using pencils, markers, and manual drafting tools. Chuck especially liked to reminisce about his time living in Italy, where he designed for the Aga Khan and attended meetings in five languages as he somehow got by speaking only English.

He met Janet Long, who would become his wife of 42 years, on a blind date arranged by his sister. Chuck and Janet married in 1983 and had their daughter, Eleanor, in 1985. They raised Eleanor in New Orleans, a city full of colorful characters, among friends and a church family who surrounded them with love and many good laughs. Chuck loved to travel; he took trips with Janet and Eleanor throughout the United States, Italy, West Africa, and the Bahamas.

In 2014, Chuck and Janet moved to Kansas City to live near Eleanor and her family. He will be remembered for his playful antics, which he and his family affectionately called“silly business.” He enjoyed puzzles, movies, and card games with his grandkids. Chuck is preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Eleanor Crawford, and his sister, Susan Pope (Sture).

He is survived by his wife, Janet Crawford; his sister, Diana Diamond (Robert); his daughter, Eleanor Harbison (AJ); his granddaughter, Camille Harbison; his grandson, Dominic Harbison; and his niece and nephews.

“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2 (NIV)