Jon Crispin's Notebook

My father died in August of 2007 and my brother, sister, and I have been trying to figure out when we could all meet in Colorado to spread his ashes.

Robert LeRoy Crispin (he hated the LeRoy part) was born in Central City, Colorado on 19 August 1917.  He was a man completely formed by his difficult early life.  At the age of 6 his father died (probably from black lung due to his working in the mines), and as his mother was often poorly, he was largely raised by grandparents.

My family; Bob, Karen, I at Richard Crispin’s grave in the Knights of Pythias cemetery.

Dad’s other side of the family were buried nearby in the IOOF (Odd Fellows) Cemetery.  Both sides of the family were Cornish, whose men worked in the lead mines there and came to Colorado to work the silver mines.

We spread some of dad’s ashes near his Wilkinson grandparents.  This watch belonged to his grandfather.  I usually keep it on my desk at home, but really wanted to bring it along for the trip.

The house he was born in on The Casey (now Casey Street) has been torn down, but this is the entry to his grandparent’s house next door.  Dad would have walked through this door countless times.

And seen this view across the valley every day.

And often would have walked up this path at the end of the street.

I have been meaning to do a long post about my father for a very long time, and I know I will get to it some day.  We had a somewhat complicated relationship, but he was an amazing guy whose life was remarkably full and interesting.