Charles Richard “Buddy” Crank, passed away December 30, 2019, at his home in Warrensburg, MO.
Buddy was born into the Crank family, to John Richard and Marjorie L. (Reno) Crank, on May 21, 1950, in Marshall, MO. Throughout his years, Buddy worked at General Motors, as a custodian at Leeton Schools, Waterloo, Mid America Turf, College Park apartments, and in recent years as a handyman in and around Warrensburg, working with his close friend Sandy Schnakenberg. Buddy was also baptized and raised in the First Christian Church, Sweet Springs, MO.
Buddy was definitely one-of-a-kind. He had many “Brothers,” had a passion for Western TV shows and movies, music, and his beloved Harleys. He loved going to swap meets. Buddy was an excellent craftsman and knew his way around cars and motorcycles. Nothing was too big or too little for Buddy, and he always remembered to get things people needed when mentioned to him. Buddy was also very neat and orderly, a trait he passed along to his daughter. And he was a classic Gemini, in that everything was either black or white, nothing in the grey area, but Buddy was fair to you as long as you were fair to him too.
Above all, Buddy may be best remembered as a vivid storyteller! And if you were lucky, you might hear the same story more than once. To some, Buddy was perhaps a tad gruff, but beneath it all he had a kind and soft heart. He will surely be missed, and we all loved him dearly!
Buddy was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Margie, brother Marvin, and stepson Jimmy Bell.
Buddy’s survivors include his daughter Leigh Ann Hartley and her husband Dave, sister Cathy Highley, brother John Crank, grandson Quinn Jones, granddaughter Carli Jones, ex-wife and good friend Joslyn Bell, step-grandson Nicolas Lamb, a niece and two nephews.
A memorial will be held at 11:00 AM on January 11, 2020 at the First Christian Church, 400 Bridge Street, Sweet Springs, MO, 65351.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the First Christian Church, Sweet Springs, MO.
