Claude Crozier
1939 – 2023
Neola, Utah

Claude B. Crozier, age 83,  of Neola, UT passed away peacefully at his home,  February 5, 2023 surrounded by his family who loved him very much.
    Claude was born in his grandma Crozier’s home, East of Neola on November 20, 1939. He was the fourth of eight children born to Charlie and Norma Crozier. He spent his youth working on the family dairy farm in Neola where he learned the value of hard work!  He graduated from Union High School where he played football and Church Basketball playing on the All Church winning team in 1958 ….He is legendary for having walked on to the football team at Dixie College in St George and playing for part of the season without even registering for school!
    Claude worked for the Winterton Herefords, Showing cattle in Denver and Red Bluff before being drafted into the Army.  After serving two years in Germany, Claude returned home to attend college at Utah State University where he was a member of the Rodeo Team competing in calf roping, steer wrestling and ribbon roping. It was there he met and married his  teammate, Linda Budge and returned to the “Basin” to work in the oilfield and raise rope horses, cattle and kids. Together they have three children; Carrie, Jeff, and JR – seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
     Claude loved working with the youth and coached many church and city basketball and football teams. If you ask his grandchildren, Grandpa was their greatest fan, traveling across the country to cheer them on. 
    Claude has always had a passion for having good horses and good timed event cattle for his kids and many others to rope.  He has provided practice cattle, horses and worked the chutes for many kids and at many rodeos over the years. He  traveled a lot of miles and made  good friends all over the country.  He has never known a stranger often stopping to visit or wave as he passed on the road.  He could walk into a crowd of strangers and come out with friends. He loved a good joke and always had a snappy come back. He was quick to lend a hand to neighbors and strangers alike. 
    Claude served as Uintah Basin High School Rodeo Club advisor for over 15 years as each one of his children competed in High School Rodeo. He was an advisor on the Utah State High School Rodeo Board where he helped make many innovative changes that resulted in Utah State High School Rodeo becoming one of the strongest programs in the nation. In 1998 he was awarded the Lee Wilkins Memorial Award of Appreciation from the Utah State High School Rodeo Association. Claude was also a chairmen for the Neola Fourth of July Rodeo and never missed a rodeo.
     Claude is survived by his wife, Linda,  his three children, Carrie,  Jeff and Jr (Jonee); grandchildren: Dillon Murray, Hailie Crozier, Whitt Crozier, Wyatt Murray, Jace Crozier, Heston Crozier and Halle Crozier. Two great grandchildren Blake and Broc Murray; his siblings Ferrel (Joan), Kelly ( Bonnie), Denton, and Charlene (Bill) Stamps.