JIMMY RAY WESTERFELD
Jimmy Ray Westerfeld, 73, of Crawford, passed away peacefully, Monday Aug. 30, 2021, after battling an aggressive form of brain cancer.
A visitation was to be held 9 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Crawford. The funeral service was to follow at 11 a.m., officiated by Pastor Tom Beers and the Rev. Henry Schulte. The committal service was in St. Paul Memorial Park.
Jimmy was born July 14, 1948, in Waco, the son of Ray Westerfeld and Helene (Schulte) Westerfeld. He graduated from Crawford High School in 1966 and attended Tarleton State University, graduating in 1971 with a degree in General Agriculture and a minor in Ping-Pong. After college, he worked at Coy Machine selling John Deere equipment. Later he worked for Combined American Insurance, where he was one of the leading salesman in the country. Jimmy started his farming career in 1974 with help from his dad, who acquired The Oliver Farms. In 1975, he married Laura Gay Beldin of Mexia and had two children, Cory Westerfeld and Keri Mueller. After 44 years of being a successful farmer, he was forced to retire due to illness.
Jimmy was always involved in the community where he was the President of the Crawford Community Center, President of the McLennan County Farm Bureau, Chairman of the McLennan County Crops Committee, board member of St. Paul Cemetery and President of St. Paul Lutheran Church, where he was also the head of the funeral usher team for many years. One of Jimmy’s greatest enjoyments was visiting the elderly in nursing homes.
He loved spending time with his grandchildren, taking them to the river, riding the gator on the Oliver Farms and attending all their sporting events. One of his favorite times of the year was opening dove season, which he looked forward to every year. Jimmy also loved traveling, white bass fishing, country dancing, “afternoon drags” to visit friends, checking on his crops as well as his family’s and anyone else who farmed in Central Texas.
Jimmy was preceded in death by his father, Ray Westerfeld.
Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Laura Westerfeld; a son, Cory Westerfeld and wife Shelly; daughter Keri Mueller; grandchildren Maci Westerfeld, Taylor Westerfeld, Camron Walker, Ava Walker and Kyla Mueller; mother Helene Westerfeld; brothers Dale and wife Luann Westerfeld, Terry and wife Sharon Westerfeld and Greg and wife Shelly Westerfeld; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and a host of other family and friends.
Pallbearers were Brett Anderson, Jeff Baize, Adam Goldenberg, David Holy, Burt Gohlke and Mason Miller.
Per Jimmy’s wishes, memorial donations may be made to Tonkawa Falls Event Center (Crawford Community Center) McGregor, TX 76657, St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 98, Crawford, TX 76638 or Shiloh Baptist Church, 911 Nelson Road, Crawford, TX 76638.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff and caregivers from Right at Home, Heartis and Bluebonnet. We are extremely grateful for the care, compassion and kindness you provided for Jimmy and our family during this difficult time.
