Jim Crabb peacefully passed away with family by his side Friday, May 13, 2022, at 86 years old. He was born September 26, 1935, in Mangum, Oklahoma, to Erbie and Rita (Baird) Crabb. Jim grew up in the Mangum/Duke area, attending Centralvue and Duke Schools. He graduated from Centralvue High School in 1953 before attending college at Sayre Junior College and Central State University in Edmond, where he earned his Bachelor's Degree in 1957. He later continued his education at SWOSU and OU as he completed his Master's Degree in educational administration. Jim started his teaching and coaching career at Sedan Schools in 1957. On August 14, 1959, Jim married the love of his life, Nita Vinson, and settled into their first home in Mountain View, Oklahoma. Jim had met Nita during a basketball game earlier in 1959 when he asked her to keep his scorebook during the game. Nita didn't realize that she had just accepted a lifetime appointment. Jim and Nita continued the coach/scorekeeper relationship for the next 37 years when Jim retired from coaching in 1996. Jim had coaching stints at Sedan for six years and at Binger for one year before landing in Sayre in 1963 as the beloved coach of the Lady Eagles basketball team. Jim became known as "Gentlemen Jim" for his polite and calm demeanor while establishing the Sayre Lady Eagles into one of the state's top girls basketball programs. He had many coaching accomplishments throughout his career, including coaching the Lady Eagles to back-to-back state championships in 1970 and 1971 and later leading his team to a state runners-up trophy in 1991. Jim had many other state tournament appearances at both Sedan and Sayre. Also of note was Jim being known as one of the founders of the Oklahoma Girls Basketball Coaches Association, where he served as the first president of the newly formed association. Jim was named Oklahoma's Girls Basketball Coach of the Year in 1971 and again in 1994. He started the Sayre Girls Basketball Camp in 1969 with the help of Harry Patterson and Freddie Gordon. It became recognized statewide as the top girls basketball camp in Oklahoma. Jim was selected to coach in the Oklahoma All-State Basketball game twice and the Oklahoma vs. Texas All-Star game twice. While continuing to coach, Jim became principal of Sayre Junior High in 1977. A position he held for ten years before becoming a full-time college instructor for SWOSU-Sayre. Jim retired from teaching and coaching in the spring of 1996 when he was inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Hall of Fame. In retirement, he enjoyed many years of friendship and fellowship with his golfing friends, where he liked a good golf match but perhaps some light-hearted teasing and laughter even more. While his career accomplishments are many, his love for Nita and his family is at the heart of Jim's most enduring legacy. He is loved and admired by each family member more than he could possibly have known. His endless love and gentle, loving way are beyond description but felt deeply by every family member. He will be sorely missed, but his influence will continue on in everyone fortunate enough to have known him. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Peggy Bielich, and two brothers, Johnny Crabb and Joe Crabb. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Nita, of the home; two daughters, Joni Holley and husband Jim of Amarillo, Tx, and Jill Wynn and husband Clay of Follett, Tx; two sons, Joe Crabb and wife Tina of Abilene, Tx, and Danny Crabb and wife Jennifer of Sayre; eight grandchildren, Lauren Crabb, Zach Wynn, and wife Mollie, Kirsten Dawson and husband Brent, Tori Flores, Heath Wynn, Hayley Wynn, Tana Holley, and Cassidy Crabb; seven great-grandchildren, Ellie Kate, Stella, AJ, Lincoln, Mack, Lucy, and River; sister, Jane Sparks, and brother, Larry Crabb and his wife Donna; two sisters-in-law, Terry Crabb and Kendra Crabb; a host of other relatives and friends. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. this Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at the First Baptist Church in Sayre, Oklahoma, officiated by Gary Baird and Tom Cooksey. A private family graveside service will be held before the memorial. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Oklahoma Baptist Children's Home, Sayre Public School Foundation, or the charity of your choice.