Frank James Crawley, 84, fisherman, popular SW Philly neighbor

FRANK CRAWLEY was popular in his Southwest Philadelphia neighborhood for a couple of reasons. Mostly, he was a friendly, helpful guy who would sit outside his home on Angora Terrace near 58th Street and greet passing neighbors who would often stop and chat.

They knew that Frank was not only a pleasure to be with, but that he would be there for them if they ever needed any kind of help. He was a very neighborly neighbor.

And then there were the fish.

Frank and some of his buddies seemed to have a natural talent for bringing in the fish, whether from the Chesapeake Bay or the Atlantic Ocean.

And being the kind of guy he was, he would share his bounty with friends, family and neighbors. Once, he and his friends caught so many fish in the ocean, they enabled Mount Carmel Baptist Church to hold a fish fry to raise funds.

He proudly posed for a photo of himself with - as his family put it - "the one that didn't get away." It hangs in his home for all to admire and fellow fishing enthusiasts to envy.

Frank James Crawley, whose first job was on an ice truck back in the days when people kept food on ice instead of in refrigerators, a longtime employee of a bedding company, a churchman and a family patriarch, died Sept. 26 of a heart condition. He was 84.

Frank enjoyed nothing better than to preside over his backyard grill, where his barbecue was "the best in town," according to his family.

"His specialties were fried chicken and fish, which he cooked to perfection," his family said.

Frank was the second of the 13 children born to William Mott and Carrie Shelton Crawley in Sharps, Va. His father was an oysterman on the Potomac River.

The family moved to Philadelphia when he was 3. He attended Blankenburg Elementary, Sulzberger Junior High and Overbrook High schools.

After his job on the ice truck, Frank went to work for the Dougherty and Reliance Bedding Co., where he made mattresses as a cutter and power-machine operator and was a union steward.

It was while playing softball that a comely young lady in the stands caught his eye. He married Clara Corrine Tuck on June 8, 1954.

Frank's spiritual journey began at Monumental Baptist Church, where he was baptized. He joined Calvary Lutheran Church in 1974. He was a member of the Usher Board, the Finance Department and Church Council. He was always available for whatever the church needed doing.

Frank played softball for teams sponsored by taverns into his middle years. He and friends also enjoyed driving out to Yeadon where they walked a couple of miles around a track to keep in shape.

Since health problems in recent years caused many doctors' appointments, Frank was happy when he left them to go straight to Burger King with his coupons.

"He was a quiet, gentle man," said his daughter, Wanda Tuck. "He was very caring. He was a great provider. He took care of everybody."

Frank was predeceased by his wife. Besides his daughter, he is survived by a son, Frank Jr.; a sister, Carrie A. Jones; five brothers, Fred, William, Calvin, Arthur and Edward Crawley, and a granddaughter, Erinique.

Services: Were Thursday. Burial was in Fernwood Cemetery.