Legendary, Perhaps

We can conclude much about Mr. Crandell from his own personal taglines:

“Dad, Stepdad, Grandpa, Husband, lover of Nature and dogs.”

“Poet, Writer, Editor, Photographer, Artist”

The first of those quotes describes the man in the roles that meant the most to him. It also influenced most of what he achieved in the second.

As an award-winning writer, he penned stories about all things family, from heartfelt tales of loss:

“The waters that helped form the bond between Brandon and me had also taken him away. I have to believe they took him home.” He Chose to Chance the Rapids,©2023

to lighthearted accounts of events like setting a lake on fire:

“In that brief instant, our army was elevated to hero status, borne on the shoulders of our leader. As the cheers slowly faded, we basked in that glory.” Fire Lake, ©2023

As a poet, his pieces numbered in the thousands when he slipped quietly into permanent sleep at his writing desk, working on a poem that was never completed. His poetry ran the gamut from sonnets and villanelles to limericks, senryu and free verse.

He dedicated several poems to his wife, Pamela, who survives him, along with both ex-wives, two children and 13 grandchildren: These are the closing lines from a sonnet written for her:

“You are my moon and stars, my sun by day,

My Love, my Life, my Reason and my Way.”

For Pam, On Our Special Day, ©2023

Many of his popular pieces were inspired by his own nature photos. The moon was a strong source of photographic inspiration and in turn, inspired many of his poetic works. The following excerpts are from two of his moon poems:

“Hidden

Save for the reflection of a light not its own,

It still moves oceans and calls to the creatures below,

Reminding me that nothing – and no one - is insignificant.”

Moonstruck, ©2021

“Flames will flicker, fires burn bright

While victors claim their prizes

Be wary, friend, for on this night

The Sorcerer's Moon rises.”

Sorcerer's Moon, ©2023

“Various” is an understatement, when it comes to the subjects he wrote about, from poking fun at his own name to a hilarious microfiction series about zombies. Similarly, the various works he left for readers evoke the full range of emotion.

If “Doc” lacked anything as an author, it was the either skill or the drive to market his work. To be fair, that's probably a fairly common trait among writers. His first poetry collection, Life, Love & Ludicrosity, stalled after 30 sales, and though it's still available on Amazon, sales haven't topped 50 since it was published in 2024.

Following up on a suggestion from a fellow writer, Mr. Crandell's children's book, Grains, written was published using the text from his original poem of the same name, written for his grandchildren. Here's the original poem, in its entirety:

See that speck, there, that pebble?

That minute grain of sand?

Yes, that one right there

In the palm of your hand.

~

It's nothing worth noting,

Just a small building block

That fortifies bonds

And strengthens a rock.

~

It's a piece, just a fragment,

One in ten billion score,

Of vast deserts and beaches

On this world, and more.

~

But, look a bit closer.

Look deeper and see,

It, too, is a construct,

Like you and like me.

~

It's much more than its surface

Inside, it's a jumble

Of minuscule worlds

That twirl and tumble.

~

It's our kin on this level.

It's ragged and rough,

Imperfect, just like us,

Made of the same stuff.

~

It's magic, and part

Of this magical place,

From the depths of the oceans

To the vastness of space.

~

And we're all intertwined,

You, that pebble and me.

In a way we can't fathom,

By a bond we can't see.

~

And we need that connection.

We must have it to thrive.

Without it, we flounder,

Just barely alive.

~

Feel the ground underneath you.

Feel the birds in the air.

Be at one with the cosmos,

And I'll see you out there.

Grains, ©2023

In keeping with Mr. Crandell's Last Will and Testament, Life, Love & Ludicrosity will remain available for purchase, with all proceeds paid to his wife, Pamela. All proceeds from Grains are to be equally distributed to his grandchildren.

His unfinished manuscript for a short story collection, entitled Fishin' Lessons, was found on his writing desk. It appears he was working on the last title. The manuscript was sold at auction, along with numerous other items, to help raise funds for his cremation.

In conclusion, it seems fair to say that Dana O. “Doc” Crandell lived up to what he stated about himself as a person. While he may not have been a Hemmingway, he was certainly a notable writer. A selection of his photography and artwork was placed on permanent display at the Nicolaysen Art Museum in Casper, Wyoming, the town he and his wife, Pamela, called home.