Floyd Edward Crowder, 84 years of Columbia, Illinois, passed away Thursday, May 18, 2017 at St. Anthony's Hospital, St. Louis, Mo. 

He was born January 30, 1933, in Warnock, Illinois, son of the late William C. and Lula I., nee Smith, Crowder. He was married to Judith, nee Easton, Crowder, who survives him. They were married June 20, 1969, at the Graham Chapel, Washington University, St. Louis, Mo.

Floyd E. Crowder, JD '58, was founder of the law firm of Crowder & Scoggins. He was also the CEO of the Monroe County Title Co.

Mr. Crowder received his AB degree from Washington University in 1955, and his law degree from the Washington University School of Law in 1957. After graduation, he served three years in the U.S. Air Force as a judge advocate. In 1960, Mr. Crowder entered private practice in East St. Louis, Illinois. Three years later he established his own general practice of law in Columbia. Today, the firm of Crowder & Scoggins, Ltd., is comprised of six attorneys.

During his professional career, Mr. Crowder was state's attorney of Monroe County from 1964 to 1968, and also in 1976. In addition, he served as special assistant attorney general for the State of Illinois from 1969 until 1983.

A former president of the St. Clair and the Monroe County bar associations, Mr. Crowder was a member of the Illinois Bar Association and the Missouri Bar, and a fellow of the American Bar Association. He was active in community and philanthropic activities and served as President of the Sophia and Elmer Oerter Charitable Foundation, Dorothy Weinel Eppinger Foundation, and Crowder Family Foundation. Mr. Crowder was also a member of the Washington University School of Law's National Council. He was a recipient of Washington University Law School's 2001 Distinguished Alumni Award. Mr. Crowder was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal by the Secretary of the Air Force for his Meritorious Service.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Lena Bean; brothers, James H. Garris and Alfred Crowder; and son in law, John Messerly.

Surviving are his wife; children, John Crowder, Carolyn Messerly, Joy (Mark) Scoggins, Andrea (Paul) Khoury, and Michelle (Tim) Walkonis; grandchildren, Martha (Ryan) Burgett, Aaron Crowder, Stephanie Van Sant, Colleen, and Caleb Messerly, Blaine, Haley, and Clayton Scoggins, Caide, Cole, Ava, and Cruz Khoury, Floyd 'Owen', and Dane Gaither; a brother, Charles H. (Marian) Crowder; brother and sisters-in-law, Mavis (William) Caswell, Allan Easton, and Kimberly (Robert) Pierce; along with many relatives and close friends.