Our larger-than-life “Ponky” has gone to find his own adventures far away from the constraints that challenged him. He found his strength and happiness from the community who welcomed and loved him unconditionally. A community consistently providing him the joy that made his life fulfilled. He built himself a trapline far and wide to help capture all those he wished to engage with, people who shared his values of joy, belief, happiness and good, and he checked it daily. He knew your name, what you did, and he built something individual and special with all his friends. When you joined his tribe, he held your hand and led a conversation about what bonded you. Cale was a diplomat of hope and traded in the currency of innocence that left each of us richer with a better understanding of strongly valuing the present moment.
Cale enjoyed the seasons each year offered, but his calendar was moved more by the holidays it promised. Winter was for joyriding in an airplane to find somewhere familiar and warm where sand could squish through his toes and a seashell could be found in a not so deep part of the ocean. His anticipation of the spring was not so much for longer and warmer days but rather for the arrival of the Easter Bunny and the excitement his furry friend always delivered. As soon as the last egg was found, Cale was on to summer and the business at hand of building his firework stand and all the planning involved in the “Big Show.” He was happy to walk you around the display and tell you all the magic he had collected but keep your money in your pocket because nothing was for sale.
It was always a quick transition to birthday season with only a few days to prepare for his big day. Everyone was welcome to his birthday party and every new timer got to experience him “eye-frisking” them to make sure they were packing something for him to unwrap. To him, it was about your presence not the present that mattered most. The first day of school was next up and he would begin each conversation through the end of July and on into August with a mischievous grin, and a “no start school.” Cale celebrated Halloween with a love/hate relationship. He was all about sharing the treats and seeing the costumes but no “scary parts” please. Ponk made sure he topped his tank off heading into November for the fifty-five day run-up to Christmas. You see, he and the big bushy bearded man were best buddies, and it was Cale’s job to make sure everyone was just as ready as those two were to spread the holiday cheer. His excitement was magical, and certainly came from only a place true believers know. As Cale saw it, every white-bearded man was Santa, each red light positioned higher than roof top level was Rudolph and every moving object in the sky after the sun went down was Santa’s sleigh, Ruby. Christmas with Cale and the traditional visit by Santa to the house was cherished by his entire family. He constantly reminded all of us to remember the child-like qualities not so deep inside which brought us so much innocence and joy in the moment.
Cale is survived by his entire community and the people who enriched his life, who taught him new things, shared what they had and spent the time filling his world with what made him happy. He was blessed with an unlimited supply of caring and committed educators dedicated to teaching him the skills he needed to navigate his life. A network of selfless professional emergency responders who took time each day to spend special moments and share their lives with him. An incredibly talented team of medical professionals always available and ready to take on extraordinary challenges and perform miracles resulting in stolen time to be shared by all. Beyond these heroes, Cale’s friends are heavily sprinkled across his community in special places only known to them.
Please plan to join us as we hold one last Assembly in his honor at the Jim Darcy Elementary School on November 22nd, at 4:00 pm with a reception to follow. Memorials are suggested to the Montana Hope Project, P.O. Box 5927, Helena, MT 59604.
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
4:00 p.m.
Monday November 22, 2021
Jim Darcy Elementary School
990 Lincoln Rd.
Helena, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Celebration of His Life
4:00 p.m.
Monday November 22, 2021
Jim Darcy Elementary School
990 Lincoln Rd.
Helena, Montana 59602
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Katy Fields says
Oh sweet Crowe family, I’m so sad. He was one of kind. Cale was love, goodness, kindness, JOY, happiness, FUN! He was all things good and pure. I will miss him forever. God gained the sweetest young man.
Love, Mrs. Fields Fireworks
Joe Sologub says
Beautiful memorial. Tim,Shelly,Mary,Kaden & the rest of his Village job well done. He is enjoying his new freedom & will be watching over every Holiday.
Much love, Joe & Mrs. Claus
Saundra Lowry says
To the Crowe family,
One of my two encounters with Cale involved him wearing the blue Sully suit from Monsters Inc. and him showing me the costume with enthusiasm but also loving me with such abandon. How joy filled he seemed and the love he brought all who knew him won’t soon be forgotten. Peace to you.
Amber says
Dear sweet Cale, 4 of my kids were blessed to know him,he always seemed to find us in a store to share a new story. My heart goes out to you Crowe family,what a beautiful soul he was.
Fire Chief C.M. Hall says
Cale was the Hero of hero’s, when he came to his fire station he made us all braver, taller, and stronger. I remember when he got his badge, the look in his eyes made us all prouder then he will ever know. Rest easy little Fire Chief,
Santa Claus (Jim) & Mrs. Claus says
I find this very difficult to write as I am having difficulty seeing through my tears as I write. I met Punky one day at Costco many years ago. I thought I was being paged on the intercom, however it was Punky calling out SANTA, SANTA, SANTA. His devotion to me was beyond words as I quickly realized my Christmas visit would always be highlighted by a visit with Punky. Actually, I saw Punky many times during the year at Costco, the lake, or around Helena. I always knew when he had seen me as I heard his booming request to hold my hand and he always wanted to know how Mrs. Claus was. Punky and I had several things in common. We both broke a hip, and my list had as many names as Punkies list of friends did. His personality was infectious. I am heart broken to hear of his passing. You’re on my GOOD LIST forever in bold letters, Cale M. Crowe. I am glad I got to meet you in my lifetime, you are special!
Chris & Skip Eby says
We did not have the pleasure of knowing your beautiful son but thank you for the glimpse into what truly must have been an amazing, albeit too short life. Your tribute brought tears to our eyes and smiles to us as well. Knowing Shelly and Lisa as we do, we are certain the adventures were endless and the laughter frequent. Just look at the lives Cale touched. Sending our love to the entire Crowe family as well as all of Cale’s grieving relatives and friends.
Debby Wiggers says
Dearest Crowe Family: I did not have the pleasure of knowing Cale, but your obituary made me feel as if I did. I pray the Lord grants you peace through this difficult time and that Cale will forever expand his community. Thank you for sharing him with the world through your amazing words. May the Lord bless you all.
Susan says
I didn’t know Cale but I am so thankful that I met him through his obituary that I happened upon while skimming the paper. A beautiful soul and a mentor of how to live life. I printed his obituary to remind me to live my life joyfully and with the innocence that seeks the best in every one. Thank you for this gift.
Nancy Reece Jones says
Dear Crowe family–I’m one who never had the pleasure to know Ponky, but I was moved enough by the beautifully written tribute in the Missoulian to follow up with a message here (I’ve never done this, although I routinely read obituaries!). I love the image of Ponky “building a trapline far and wide to help capture all those he wished to engage with…” We would all do well to have a Ponky in our lives, to see through his lens of love, enthusiasm, and hope. Thank you for distilling his precious life into such impactful words for everyone’s benefit. Sending love your way.
Linda Weston says
I did not know Cale, but as a teacher, I knew his spirit. I believe this to be one of the most moving and beautiful obituaries I have ever read. Those who wrote this tribute loved this young man unconditionally and helped all of us, even strangers, love him too.
Janice Glass says
I was lucky enough to have known Cale through summer SACC. What a sweet, loving soul with a twinkle in his eye. Thank you for sharing this amazing human being. Rest In Peace, Cale.
T says
Tim, Shelly, Mary, and Kaden,
I am so sorry for your loss. Reading this obituary made me smile; all the lives Ponky touched is a blessing.
Ponky was a beautiful young man with a contagious smile and definitely a twinkle in his eye.
My prayers are with you at this time.
T. Enger
Cindy says
Tim, Shelly, Mary, Kaden, Savannah and Families,
We are so sorry for your loss. Ponky was our spirt in our family. He made all the holidays so much more special and made our lives so full of spirt. We will never forget our sweet boy. We will miss hearing our names Hot Cocoa, Chad snowmobile, Baby Galbavy, Mrs. Claus, Joe Bus. Because of all of you, he was our spirt. He was so successful because of all of your love, humor and support. He is now able to walk, run, breath better, swim again. He will be our new guardian angel and he will remind us to have fun and to love life.
We love all of you.
The Galbavys
Mary Seitz says
My deepest sympathy for the loss of Cale. Cale was a student in my Physical Education class when he was 6/7 years old. A charming, kind and sweet boy who always made me smile! May he run free now❤️