Karl Kee Crawford

A funeral for Karl Kee Crawford, 87, a Carson City resident, will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Stewart Community Baptist Church.

Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. today at FitzHenry's Funeral Home.

Mr. Crawford died July 31, 2005, at Carson Convalescent Center. He was born April 12, 1918, in Ganado, Ariz., to Henry and Martha Zhinii Crawford.

He graduated from Phoenix Indian Boarding School in 1939.

Before moving to Carson City, he lived in Klamath, Calif.

Mr. Crawford was a journeyman plumber. He worked in public health services, IHS, Northern Nevada and Northern California, and the Civilian Conservation Corps on projects.

He served in the National Guard from 1937 to 1939 and in the U.S. Marine Corps First Division, 7th Regiment, 1st and 3rd Battalion, Pacific Campaign from 1942-46. He was a code talker. He was recognized on Aug. 13, 1982, on National Navajo Code Talkers Day in Washington, D.C. He received a proclamation from Gov. Kenny Guinn honoring his service as a Navajo Code Talker on Nevada Day, Oct. 26, 2002, and he was presented the Congressional Silver Medal of Honor Aug. 30, 2002, in Chinle, Ariz.

He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Stewart Community Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Wright, in 1999 in Klamath.

Among his survivors are his children Winona Hicks, Wanda Doran, Daryl Crawford and Virginia Claussen, all of Carson City; sisters Ella Nakai of Lukachukai, Ariz., and Alma Ashley, Marie Pete and Betty Crawford, all of Ganado; nine grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and numerous extended-family members.

Burial will be with full military honors by the Veterans Memorial Association at Lone Mountain Cemetery.

FitzHenry's Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.