Bloom Where You Are Planted

This blog was created March 11, 2015. The contents of this blog contain correspondence between Chuckwa Don Crabtree and Gina Gillispie.

Although the two have never met, they became friends via mail when Gina, editor of an online news site, first reported Chuckwa's story.

When Gina saw his arrest photo, there was something that tugged at her to believe this person had a story to tell.

She mailed her first letter September 7, 2012 and they have been writing ever since.

After several years, Chuckwa decided he wanted to begin to tell his life story and send a message of hope to those who still have choices to make...his goal is to spend his time doing good things and good work right where he is....

Chuckwa has decided...to bloom where he is planted.

The posts that you will read will be a mix of old letters, stories about his everyday life in the James V. Allred Unit in Iowa Park, Texas and stories from his boyhood growing up along the creek in Palo Pinto County, Texas.

He signs his letters...."The Callisburg Kid"

Monday, June 29, 2015

THE VICTIM--MIKE MILLER

I had a dream the night before that I was at the old fishing pond where I fished a lot growing up.  My grandma was talking to me in the dream.  I don't remember what she was telling me though.  I sure wish I could have woke up there instead of this place, but here is where I be.   I'll have to leave fishing up to the kids for awhile.

.....the last dream I had like this was a dream about Mr. Miller.  In my dream he was standing next to a kitchen table with a blue t-shirt, blue jeans and a cap and drinking a cup of coffee.  He was looking at a calendar.  If that's the case then he's better off than he was.  I believe that was a message to me that let me know he's in a better place... in better shape.  I sure do hope so.





PERRYTON - Mike Miller, 45, died Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2010.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Key Heights Baptist Church with Doug Rawlins and the Rev. Terry Williams officiating. Burial will be in Ochiltree Cemetery by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home of Perryton.

Mr. Miller was born Aug. 10, 1965, in Perryton to William E. and Belmere Miller. He graduated in 1984 from Perryton High School and was a farmer.

Survivors include two daughters, Brandi Miller and Hayle Miller, both of Perryton; a son, Justin Miller of Perryton; a sister, Deanna Miller of Corsicana; and four grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials be to Multiple Sclerosis Society, Panhandle Chapter, 6222 Canyon Drive, Amarillo, TX 79109.


Amarillo Globe-News, Oct. 30, 2010


Miller's Home


Ali Allison
NewsChannel 10
The Ochiltree County Sheriff is investigating the shooting of longtime county resident, Mike Miller.
Mike Miller was a father, a third generation farmer and a one time County Commission Candidate.
"He was kind of a fixture around here he was just Mike" says Ochiltree County Sheriff Terry Bouchard.
34 year old Chuckwa Don Crabtree was living with Miller for the last three weeks as a friend and care taker. Family tells us Mike had bailed Crabtree out of jail recently.
Miller suffered from MS and was in a wheelchair. Sometime after two p.m. Wednesday afternoon, Miller was shot in the neck while sitting in his bedroom.
Crabtree was arrested later in the afternoon for the murder. Crabtree's mother Donna who lives in Gainesville, TX called the police who then called Ochiltree County because she said her son told her he had killed a man and was going to kill himself.
When police arrived at the home 15 mile S.E. of Perryton , Crabtree was running across a open field towards the rural residence.
"When we got there we observed a man running towards the residence we lost sight of him behind the out buildings we didn't know at the time he was armed," says Bouchard.
He surrendered after a brief stand off with authorities. The Sheriff says he was holding a AK-47 weapon and was under the influence of alcohol.
"We are still young in the investigation, I don't think it was premeditated," says Bouchard.

Crabtree remains in the Ochiltree County Jail on a $750,000 bond.
Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins

1 comment:

  1. Chuckwa Don Crabtree is a good man Christian man that at the time was crying out for help he would never hurt anyone intentionally I have grown to love this man very much I know this man and he is a man that has a lot of love in his heart I plan to stand by this man the rest of my life

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