Herbert Gilbert “Gil” Crask Jr, a veteran of World War II and native of Trinidad, Colo., passed away on April 7, 2024, at the age of 99. Herbert, the eldest of four children, was born Feb. 28, 1925, to Herbert G. & Dorothy Crask Sr. His early jobs, which he held down while in school, included working the animals and orchard on the family homestead and working alongside his father at the family business Crask Sheet Metal. He graduated from Trinidad High School and then enlisted into the United States Navy in 1943. Herbert served in the Navy as a machinist and sheet metalsmith on the warships the USS Black Hawk, USS Prairie, and USS West Virginia. During his service, he received the Victory Medal of World War II, the American Area Campaign Medal, the American Defense Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the China Service Medal, the Japanese Occupation Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal for the Korean service.
He married Lucille “Sally” Crumley Whitney and had three children. Herbert lived an active life in California, Colorado, and Arizona teaching scuba diving to police officers, sheet metal fabrication, golf, and stained-glass work. He was a long active member of the Arizona Sheet Metal Workers Union where he operated his own business. Herbert was a member of the Masonic Lodge and Shriners of Arizona. He traveled the world and enjoyed going on cruises. He was extremely proud of his military service and loved to share his stories about his naval adventures. He was interviewed and a recording of his life was made locally for publication. He was extremely honored to be the Grand Marshall of the veteran’s parade in Trinidad. He lived out the remainder of his life at the homestead in Trinidad with his sister Harriett Goodale.
Herbert was a kind and thoughtful soul and will be missed and remembered for all the love and guidance he shared with his friends, and family, and by the many lives he touched. He always lived by the core attributes of the Navy: initiative, accountability, integrity, and toughness which served as the guiding criteria for his decisions and actions. He lived by the values of honor, courage, and commitment and it was evident and clear in his daily actions.
Herbert is preceded in death by his wife Lucille, son Jack, daughters Jill and Joi, his parents Herb & Dorothy, brothers John & Charles and sister Harriett, great nephew Cory Wayne Morgan, grandchildren Kara & Kane McClellan.
He is survived by his nieces and nephews Cheri (Brad) Morgan, Brady Morgan, Laura Goodale and Gary (Barbara) Goodale of Trinidad; son-in-law Russell Huff, grandchildren John ( Kym ) Huff, Tamara Clampffer-Huff, Jennifer Dieatrick of Washington; Heather (Chad) Dent and Sara (Andrew) Napier of Arizona; Tom, Randy & Susan Crask of Denver; numerous great-grandchildren, great nieces & nephews.
The family has organized a memorial service in honor of Herbert’s life and military service to be held at the Mullare Murphy Funeral Home on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at 11 AM. The family can be contacted through the funeral home.
The family has entrusted the Mullare-Murphy Funeral Home with the arrangements.
