John William Crane, 54

After 54 years, John Crane surrendered to his fatal illness-Cystic Fibrosis (CF). John William Crane was born on March 21, 1971, to Don and Libby Crane, and at the age of two years diagnosed with CF and given a life expectancy of only eight to sixteen years. His existence was ordered around regular clinic visits to Little Rock hospitals, daily physical treatments at home, and adhering to many doctor-prescribed medications.
As medical knowledge of CF increased, John and parents were given the hopes of his having a longer life span. As he began school, John’s health had improved to the point of allowing him to participate as any normal child while still maintaining his daily routine of medications and avoiding others who may have had harmful infections. This was a necessary practice for his whole life.
Following high school graduation, John began working part time at Wal-Mart and enrolled at Henderson State University to major in art. Developing a great talent for ceramics, he created some outstanding and colorful examples of ceramic art. Leaving Henderson, he continued to work at Wal-Mart in sporting goods. “I’m working for my insurance,” he would say. During those days, his health began to deteriorate somewhat and be eventually had to leave Wal-Mart as disabled. His hospital stays became more frequent and his CF doctor at UALR Medical Center entered his name as a good candidate for a double lung transplant.
On Thanksgiving Day of 2006, John received his lung transplant at Vanderbilt Medical Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, and following a lengthy recovery, his life changed somewhat. John said later, “That gave me fourteen good years of life.” His health greatly improved. He still had the CF but could do things without carrying all of the health equipment around with him. He got into bike riding and would ride many miles in an day. He loved deer hunting and fishing and tying flies. He had always had an interest in guns and enjoyed shooting in the I.D.P.A. matches held at the Benton gun range.
When Covid came, things suddenly changed. Following all precautions, John avoided that disease but contracted something that caused loss of feeling in his lower extremities, and his health quickly deteriorated. He lost all lower body functions and became unable to stand or walk. He spent his last two years as an invalid and passed peacefully to meet his Lord on June 24, 2025.
John is survived by his father and mother, Don and Libby Crane of Prescott, His sister, Stacey (David) Bui of Hope, and his nephew, Samuel Bui of Fayetteville. John was a member of Shady Grove Baptist Church.