James "Jim" Crahan

Jim Crahan,
66, was born in Indianapolis on July 9, 1948 to Thomas and Margaret "Peg" Crahan. Jim graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas grade school and Bishop Chatard High School before going on to Ball State University where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Communications and was a proud member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. While at Ball State, Jim forged strong ties with fraternity brothers that would last a lifetime.

During the span of his nearly 45 year career in advertising and communications, Jim crossed paths with his fraternity brothers often and built incredible relationships with colleagues and clients along the way. His partnership in Pearson, Crahan, Fletcher, England is just one example. Jim and his coworkers created advertising campaigns and a reputation second to none, and they garnered countless perennial Addy awards to illustrate it.

Jim was considered "brilliantly creative and imaginative" in advertising, marketing, communications and productions. He conceived and co-produced a documentary for Tom Cochran of Nineteenth Star Productions entitled "One Shot, One Kill" following a group of elite Rangers through Army Sniper School where they would earn a Bravo 4 certification and assignment to tough places.

In times of better health, Jim was an avid runner, completing the Chicago Marathon and several half marathons. Jim and some friends even began their own 6k fun run in Indianapolis called the "Ridge to Ridge."

Jim loved scuba diving and that hobby took him throughout the Caribbean and Mexico where he enjoyed diving, sunsets and time with family and friends. He and his family were long time members of Woodstock Country Club where he enjoyed playing golf, watching the Fourth of July Celebrations on the lawn, and seeing his children compete in swimming, tennis and golf.

Jim also served as a board member for the American Red Cross.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Peg Crahan. He is survived by his daughter, Lainey (Clay) Scheetz and their three children, Tanner, Hayden and Drew; his son, James Thomas "Chip" (Megan) Crahan and their two children, Cecilia and James; his three sisters, Sally (John) Winchell, Jane (Bob) Jones, and Mary Ann (Dan) Fagan; and his five nieces and nephews, Patrick and Sean (Liz) Winchell, Mike Jones, and Kate and Kevin (Katie) Fagan.

In the screenplay of life, Jim would have wanted a different ending and would have changed the last several scenes. It is his family's hope that he will be remembered for his dry sense of humor, quick wit and creativity.

"Don't you think it's interesting that people die in alphabetical order?" " Jim Crahan

A celebration of life will be held at St. Pius X Catholic Church, located at 7200 Sarto Drive, Indianapolis, on Monday, Jan. 12 from 5 - 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Cathedral High School to honor Jim's father, children, niece and nephew who attended.