Donald Ray Crenshaw

Donald Ray Crenshaw, age 79, returned to his loving Heavenly Father and Mother on 4 March 2026. He was born 21 February 1947 in Lynwood, California to Donald LeRoy and Leola Rice Crenshaw. He was the third of six children and a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Don grew up in Southern California and lost his father at age eight. He attended schools in Downey and Norwalk and graduated from La Mirada High School, where he especially enjoyed his stagecraft class.

Don was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1966 and served in the postal service at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and was selected as a 3rd Division Army all‑star volleyball player. After completing his military service, Don served a full‑time mission in Scotland. These combined years of service—military and missionary—were deeply meaningful to him and shaped the rest of his life.

On 29 June 1971, Don married Marsha Ann Evans in the Los Angeles Temple. He worked as a pipe bender for Western Piping before using the GI Bill to earn an AA from Cerritos College in 1974. In 1976, now parents of three, they moved to Chino, California. In 1979, the family relocated to Santaquin, Utah, where they welcomed five more children, one stillborn.

Over the years, Don worked in a variety of roles that reflected his determination and dedication to provide for his family - from driving a bread route for Metz Baking Company to quality control at Powder River in Provo. In 1986, he began a 20‑year career with UPS, where he especially enjoyed the daily interactions with customers. He retired early in 2006 at age 59½.

Don devoted his life to church service, filling leadership, missionary, music, and family history roles across every community he lived in. Helping others through dedicated service brought him a sense of satisfaction and fulfilment.

Don loved fishing and hiking in the outdoors. He especially grew to love the Escalante Staircase canyons. He kept a large garden filled with berries, melons, and an impressive backyard orchard that included apricot, peach, almond, multiple plum varieties, pears, cherries, and apples. He also enjoyed raising chickens and goats.

From 2012–2014, Don and Marsha served a full‑time mission in the Family and Church History Headquarters Mission in Salt Lake City, where Don worked in Access Services helping patrons find materials and make copies. After returning home, they continued serving in the Santaquin Family History Center.

Don is survived by his wife, Marsha, and their seven children, Emily (Drew) Barlow, Santaquin, Utah, Brent (Julia), Woodstock, Illinois; Scott (Bethany), Taylorsville, Utah, Mark (Darci), Springville, Utah, Ted (Julia Morris), Boise, Idaho, Jake (Josie), Las Vegas, Nevada; Glen (Megan George), Payson, Utah, and 19 grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings Larry (Fran) Crenshaw; Kathy (Daryl) Schelin; Ginger (Scott) Knecht; and Linda (Rob) Mandarino (currently serving as missionaries in Massachusetts).He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Wayne Allen Crenshaw.

Please respect Marsha's privacy with no visits or flowers to her home. Donations to a charity of your choice, in lieu of flowers, are encouraged.