Barrett Jules "Buddy" Crespo

Barrett Jules “Buddy” Crespo, 91, of the Henleyfield Community, stepped into eternal rest on Thursday, December 7, 2023.
Buddy was born in Harahan, LA on March 8, 1932, during The Great Depression. His generation is known as the Silent generation. A generation that kept their heads down and worked hard without complaining. The hardships of The Great Depression and World War II instilled in him a sense of determination and perseverance, and this made Mr. Buddy who he was.
Buddy answered the call of his patriotic duty by joining the United States Military to serve in the Army. He joined in March 1949 and served until August 1952. He is a veteran of the Korean War in which he served as Sergeant in the 25th infantry division. His job was to run signal wire for communications.
Before the Army, he began his lifelong career in plumbing by working for his older brother in New Orleans, LA. After the war, he continued his plumbing career in New Orleans then in Picayune, MS when he moved to Picayune in the 70’s. He quickly became a well-known and highly respected member of the plumbing community. His plumbing career went on to last over 70 years. He never retired from plumbing. He was still actively working right up until the end. Mr. Buddy is truly a legend and will be missed by many.
Mr. Buddy and Leeana were married on November 5, 1983. They bought a farm that would become a petting zoo. To reward his hard work on the farm and the demands of owning a plumbing business, they spent time traveling to exotic destinations like Tahiti, Hawaii, Jamaica, Belize, and the Galapagos Islands.
Throughout the different seasons of his life, he enjoyed many hobbies. In his younger years he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and being a scout leader for the Boy Scouts. In his later years he enjoyed beekeeping and tending to his chickens. He has always enjoyed reading but National Geographic and Popular Mechanics stands out as his favorite reads. He also enjoyed listening to talk radio, but working has always been his favorite thing to do.
He is preceded in death by a son, Barrett John Crespo; his father, Wallace A. Crespo and mother, Catherine Fraiche Crespo. His twin sister, Sally Dupuy; two more sisters, Jeanne Davis and Helen Daix; and a brother, Wallace Crespo.
He is survived by his wife, Leeana Crespo of the Henleyfield community; a son, Ralph (Wendy) Dennis of Picayune, MS; a daughter, Mellissa (Dean) Kronauer of Lucedale, MS; five grandchildren, Nick Dennis, Cody Sterling, Noah Sterling, Hope Holland, and Joel Kronauer; six great grandchildren and a brother, Grayson “Cob” Crespo.
A funeral service will be held in Buddy’s honor at New Palestine Baptist Church; 2336 Palestine Road; Picayune, MS on Thursday, December 14, 2023, from 3pm-5:30pm. The ceremony will start at 5:30pm.
In lieu of flowers, his wife, Leeana has requested donations to cover funeral expenses.