Kevin Ezell Crutcher was born in San Diego, California, on March 27, 1961, to Gloria Fay Robinson Crutcher and Louis Ezell Crutcher. Graduating from Lincoln High School, he was a “Hornet For Life.”
After high school, he joined the United States Marines and later, the Army Reserves.
Kevin met his wife and soulmate, Lanette Taylor, while he was living in Los Angeles in 1993. They went on one dinner date, and that sealed their fate. 30 years later, their love still stands.
Kevin’s love for his family was undeniable. He had a big heart that ran deep and wide. He would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.
Kevin decided to follow in his father and mentor’s footsteps and became a carpenter, a career he continued in until his last days. He also had the privilege of being mentored by some of the greatest black contractors in San Diego County: Mr. John Davis, Mr. William Walker, Mr. Charles Black, and his bonus grandfather Mr. Alfred Gibson. Later in life, he became the mentor.
Kevin shared his insatiable love for fishing with his family and friends. As a kid, he would sneak into Chollas Lake and go fishing, even if it was closed, sneaking back home on his tippy toes with a bucket of fish and a big smile. He broke records at that same lake and had a write up in the LA Times titled “Fishing Hole/Chollas Lake at a Glance”. “In 1976, Kevin Crutcher of San Diego landed the lake-record bass, which
weighed 15 1⁄2 pounds.” In 2009, the San Diego Union Tribune reported a statistical article on him for catching a 74.9 pound blue catfish using chicken livers as bait. During his last overnight fishing trip to Mexico with his cousins, he won the pot for the biggest yellowtail catch.
On October 17, 2023, the Lord called Kevin home.
Preceding him in death were his grandparents; Armelia and Johnny Crutcher, Lola Mae Gibson and George Robinson, and his father Louis Crutcher.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife Lanette Taylor Crutcher, his mother Gloria Crutcher, siblings; Duane Crutcher and Kim Crutcher, daughters; LeShay Crutcher and Kodie Johnson (honorary), stepchildren; Michelle, Keisha and Nomi, step-grandchildren; Gianna, Bianca, Joshua, Tatiana and Nathan, nieces; Natasha Crutcher, Ali Crutcher, Avalon Crutcher, and Daisha Crutcher-Currence; nephew Zack Crutcher, and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and lifelong friends.
