Point Reyes Light - October 16, 2003

Rancher Bill Crayne, 55, loved by all in Tomales

By Larken Bradley

Lifelong Tomales rancher William Crayne, a third-generation family member of Irish and Swiss-Italian settlers, died Thursday, Sept. 25, the result of a massive heart attack. He was 55.

Befriended everyone

Three years ago in response to pressures from environmentalists concerned with runoff pollution, Mr. Crayne sold the dairy cows that grazed his family’s Dillon Beach Road ranch, replacing the herd with beef cattle.

A popular member of the small community, Mr. Crayne was a dead ringer for the Marlborough Man, known to befriend nearly everyone he met, whether a cross-country cyclist peddling through Tomales, or cronies at the William Tell watering hole. Possessed of a rare tolerance for others’ shortcomings, "he kind of realized that everybody has faults," his daughter Tracie Crayne explained.

Funny, friendly and the life of the party, "if Billy wasn’t there, it was no fun," reflected lifelong friend Greg Furlong of Sebastopol. "If you knew him, you’d never forget him."

Born on August 8, 1948, to ranchers Donald and Erma Crayne, after graduating from Tomales High School he enlisted in the US Navy where he was stationed in Rhode Island, Puerto Rico, and Newfoundland serving as a mason with the Seabees, construction-worker sailors immortalized in The Fighting Seabees, a Hollywood film starring John Wayne.

At the end of his military service he felt a pull to return to Tomales to help operate the family ranch. Proud of his time with the Seabees, "he regretted leaving the Navy," his son, Michael Crayne revealed.

While still in the service he married Cheryl Crawford, a classmate at Tomales High, with whom he had four children. Their marriage ended in divorce, as did his second marriage to Kathleen Shelley.

Local history buff

A member of the Tomales Regional History Center, his knowledge of local history was comprehensive. "He was real, real proud of the little town," his son said. He was grand marshal of last year’s Founders’ Day Parade and sat on the town-hall board for many years.

Mr. Crayne’s death comes shortly after the passing earlier this year of Romeo Sartori and Butch Cerini, two other pillars of the Tomales community.

Always with his nose in a book, he was a fan of western writer Louis Lamour and novelist Tom Clancy. Wild about Elvis Presley, as a young man he fashioned his hair to emulate the rock-and-roll star’s D.A.

"His one big regret was that he never saw Elvis perform live," Greg Furlong revealed.

Cafe owner

A former owner of Angel’s Cafe, he sold the business shortly before his death.

Mr. Crayne was predeceased by his father, Donald Crayne, and his brother, Donald Crayne, Jr.

He is survived by his partner, Kathy Norwood; and mother, Erma Crayne, both of Tomales, daughters, Christy Bordessa of Valley Ford; Tracie Crayne of Bodega; Jennifer Donaldson of Winters, Yolo County; son, Michael Crayne of Tomales, sister, Kathy Hughes of Rohnert Park; brothers, Richard Crayne of Tomales; and James Crayne of Chileno Valley.

Burial was at Tomales Catholic Cemetery.

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