Family, friends remember plane crash victim

Shortly after 11:30 a.m. Sunday a Challenger II light sport plane crashed near the Prineville Airport.

The only person on board, Murray Crowe, 47, of Crooked River Ranch, died at the scene.

“I’m so grateful that, that’s the way it went, because he loved flying,” Murray’s wife, Carmen, said Monday.

The Oregon National Guard Iraq War veteran is survived by his daughter, son and wife.

“He was an amazing man, in every shape and form,” Carmen said. “I’m so blessed that I got to be his wife for 25 years, and we had a wonderful marriage.”

Murray recently surprised his wife with a trip to Hawaii for their 25th anniversary.The two renewed their vows on the beach. Carmen says it was all Murray’s idea.

“Just always being there for everybody who needed him. You’d get a phone call and he’d just be out the door,” Carmen said.

Murray’s son, Steven, shared a passion for flying with his dad. The two spent many hours working on planes, including the one Murray was flying Sunday.

“He was one of the few I could talk to, about really my passion,” said Steven. “I really thank him for that.”

Steven has more than 50 flying hours. Carmen said Murray was a student pilot with 75 hours, and he achieved solo status in June of last year.

“He loved flying,” Carmen said. “That was just a freedom for him, as well as I know it is for Steven. I have a lot of comfort in that.”

It’s comfort Murray’s friends and family now find in the many memories they shared with him.

“I miss him a lot. I really want him to come back, but I’ll just have to finish what we started together,” Carmen said.

As for what she would tell him: “What would I say? That I love you dearly, and I appreciated your support. Thank you for the babies and that incredible fairytale life. I love you and I miss you always.”

The cause of the crash is under investigation. by the FAA and NTSB

Carmen says the support from all of Murray’s friends and family is helping them get through their loss. She says she has loved hearing all the stories, and thanks everyone who has visited, called or written.

A Funeral will be held Saturday, September 14th at 1:00 p.m. in Prineville at the National Guard Armory.

A wake will follow at 3:00 p.m. at 6728 South Adams Drive in Culver. If you would like to help the Crowe family, they said you can bring a food dish or drink to the wake.