Vernon Crotwell

Mr. Vernon Crotwell, age 71, passed away Wednesday, October 30, 2019.  Visitation will be held Friday, November 1, 2019 from 5:00pm until 8:00pm and Saturday, November 2, 2019 from 12:00pm until 1:45pm at Ott and Lee Funeral Services, in Morton, MS with services following at 2:00pm in Ott and Lee Services Chapel.  Officiating will be Reverend Earl Clark and Reverend Gary Wyatt.  Burial will follow at Independence Methodist Cemetery, in Morton, MS.

Vernon was born July 11, 1948 in Morton, MS.  He graduated from Morton High School in 1966.  He then attended East Central Community College and received a bachelor’s degree in 1972 from Delta State College.  Vernon was a kicker for the Morton Panthers and went on to kick for the East Central Warriors.  One of his most memorable football moments was kicking the winning extra point for the Panthers against the Bearcats his senior season.

Vernon was preceded in death by his parents, Bobbye R. and Frank Duncan and stepson, Derek Hudson.  Vernon is survived by his wife, Linda Crotwell of Morton, MS; his sons, Stan Crotwell of Forest, MS and Steven (Christy) Crotwell of Morton, MS; stepdaughter, Gera (Vince) Bynum of Morton, MS; sister, Becky (Cooper) Beard of Morton, MS; grandsons, Nicholas Crotwell and Hudson Bynum; granddaughters, Madison, Ema, Julia, Kimberly, and Katie Crotwell, Macy and Alley Hudson, and Adrian Hall; nieces, Jessica Burkes and Jerami Earls; nephew, Duncan Beard.

After graduating college, Vernon returned to Morton to assist coaching the Panthers before moving to Amite, LA, where he coached the Jackets of Oak Forest Academy.  In 1976, he became an insurance agent for Farm Bureau until his retirement in 2013.  Throughout his successful insurance career, he amassed numerous awards and honors.

Vernon was a strong supporter of education and athletics.  He served many years as president of the Morton Panther Booster Club.  He also served 29 years on the Board of Trustees for East Central Community College.

Vernon had a great love of the outdoors.  He enjoyed fishing and hunting the woods of Caney Creek and Vicksburg with his uncles, cousins, and his boys.  You could even catch him hunting with a granddaughter or two.

This time of year , filled with family and football, was a favorite for Vernon.  He could be found cheering on the Panthers, the Ole Miss Rebels, and his grandson at ERA.  Papaw, as his family knew him, loved his Nana and they together loved being surrounded by their many children and grandchildren.

In his later years, Vernon enjoyed talking politics and drinking coffee with the best guys in town at Sam’s Diner.

Honorary pallbearers will be Butch McLemore, Charlie Stroud, John Callahan, Buford Palmer, Tommy Harrell, Gaines Massey, Bert Atkison, Bobby Mitchner, Bill Rogers, and Billy Frank Alford.

Pallbearers will be Duncan Beard, Hudson Bynum, Vince Bynum, Nicholas Crotwell, Tom Geter, James (Spunky) Hawkins, David Livingston, and Nathan Wade.