Clay & Eunice Crum
1931—2023 & 1939—2023
The Crums, Clayton Earl, passed away Aug. 3, 2023, at 91, and Eunice Horn passed away Aug. 5, 2023, at 84, in Ashland, surrounded by their family and loved ones.
Clayton was born Aug. 29, 1931, in Inez, to Lon and Rosetta Crum.
Clayton was a true jack of all trades, but his greatest accomplishments were Husband, Uncle, Daddy and Pa. He was known as Pa to most of the Martin County youth who grew up with his three grandchildren.
Pa’s life was filled with story and adventure. He left home at age 12, during the Second World War, to work on farms in Montana and New York. He served our country during the Korean conflict. Later, he became a coal miner and electrician in Oceana, West Virginia, and Wolf Creek Collieries, retiring from mining in the early 90s. One of his many passions was training championship boxers. Clayton’s favorite pastime was sharing joy with others.
Eunice was born Feb. 19, 1939, in Inez, to Marion Horn and Docie Jarrell and was raised by her Aunt Elizabeth Horn of Turkey Creek.
Eunice was a prolific dessert enjoyer, coffee enthusiast and shopaholic. She was our Nana.
Nana’s life was equally adventurous, leaving home during the summers of her high school years to work in the factories and drive-ins of Columbus, Ohio. She worked for the Wyoming County Board of Education Head Start in West Virginia and the Martin County Board of Education at Venters Branch Elementary School. Her true passion was shopping and friends, keeping the roads hot with all the trips to and from the Huntington and Fayette malls.
Clayton and Eunice were the loves of each other’s lives. They eloped in 1958, getting married on the porch of a local pastor’s house at the mouth of Preece Hollow on a frosty November evening. They enjoyed 65 years of marriage together, raising two children and spoiling three grandchildren.
Clayton and Eunice are survived by two children, Clay (Jackie) Crum and Lisa (Elmer) Kirk; three grandchildren, Dr. Kyle Kirk, Colby (Cori) Kirk and Ashley Lorne Crum; one sister and brother respectively, Rosemary Crum Blackburn, and John Jarrell; many nieces and nephews; and countless friends.
The family would also like to thank Julie Maynard as a special friend of the family who has been so good to them during their time of need.
Clayton will be remembered for his joyful laugh and smile, which he carried with him wherever he went – right to the end.
Eunice will be remembered for her quick wit, her endearing love for her family and friends, and her cornbread. Visitation will take place Monday, Aug. 7, 2023, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Callaham Funeral Home in Inez. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023, at 1 p.m. at the Golden Memorial Methodist Church in Inez. Arrangements are under the direction of the Callaham Funeral Home, Inez.