Tobey Campbell Crane

Tobey Campbell Crane lived his life with integrity, honor, respect, responsibility, accountability, and generosity. He was always one to challenge himself, whether it be with a crossword puzzle or learning to fly an airplane. Family was everything to him. Tobey was devoted to his wife, son, and granddaughters. He loved them more than words can convey.

Tobey was 70 when he died suddenly of a heart attack in his home on Monday, January 20, 2020. Tobey was born August 31, 1949 in Skowhegan Maine. At the age of two, he and his family moved to Glen Cove on the coast of Maine -- a beautiful place to grow up, with the ocean as his back yard. He spent much of his youth sailing with his family on their sailboat and exploring the local islands alone in his small outboard boat.

Tobey attended elementary schools in Rockland and Rockport Maine. He attended Mount Hermon Academy in Northfield Massachusetts for his first two years of high school. He was very happy to return in his junior year to Rockport High School and to all of his friends. In 1966, when the Camden and Rockport high schools consolidated, Tobey met Candy Marriner, who would become the love of his life. The love and bond they immediately shared grew stronger and stronger over the next 53 years. They graduated together and were never parted, until his death. Tobey and Candy were married September 16, 1967 in Rockport Maine. The following year they were given the biggest blessing of their lives, a son, Anthony Campbell Crane (Tony). In 1969, they moved to Old Town Maine so Tobey could attend the University of Maine in Orono. He studied engineering and physics for the first three years and graduated with a BS in mathematics in 1972.

After graduation, Tobey and his family moved to Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine where they planned to spend the winter skiing. As luck would have it, it rained the entire season putting a damper (sorry, bad pun -- blame Tobey’s humor) on their plans. Not giving up on the entire season, Tobey, Candy, and their friend Dave travelled west in search of snow in the spring of 1973. After skiing multiple resorts in four states, they drove into the Wood River Valley and discovered Sun Valley, Idaho. They returned to the East Coast from their ski trip with hopes of making it back to Sun Valley someday. Tobey worked at Shield Yachts building sailboats from 1973 until the company closed. In 1975 Tobey used this opportunity to relocate his family to Sun Valley to pursue his lifelong passion for skiing. Tobey worked many typical ski town jobs, and ultimately started his own roofing business. After a few years of this work, in 1979 he got his first opportunity to work in the ski industry, which became his dream job for the next 40 years. His first break was with PRE skis, then came other lines, such as Tecnica ski boots, Dynamic skis, SAA, and other smaller vendors. His biggest brands ended up being Volkl skis and Marker bindings. Tobey was the Volkl/Marker rep in the Intermountain West from 1992 until 2018 when he retired. Tobey received the award for best sales rep in the Intermountain West twice, in 2012 and 2014. This was the perfect job for Tobey, as he was able to combine work and play. He was a traveling salesman who always made time to explore the outdoors. His van was always full of skis, his mountain bike, and kayak. This work gave him an opportunity to make many friends throughout his territory as well as the entire ski industry.

Tobey was a leader by example, a humble man of few words who strived for excellence in every aspect of his life. He was detail-oriented, and he got things done quietly behind the scenes, looking for no praise, thanks, or recognition. He had a passion for skiing and being in the outdoors. His friends will tell you that he usually led the way, whether going downhill on skis or uphill on his bike. Tobey had a dry, unique sense of humor. He enjoyed a good joke, and he loved to make others laugh.

Tobey was preceded in death by his father, Kennedy Crane Jr.; his mother, Henrietta Page Crane; his brothers Kennedy Crane III and Edward Page Crane; his father-in-law Roland Clifford Marriner; his step father-in-law Clifton John Russell; his brothers-in-law Dana Roland Marriner and Wayne Carroll Marriner. He is survived by those who loved him and always will -- Candice Marriner Crane, wife of 52 years; son Anthony Campbell Crane, age 51; his three granddaughters, Alexandra Lynn Crane, age 19, Jessica Ann Crane, age 17, and Stella Marie Crane, age 14; sister Gertrude Page Crane; sister-in-law Susan Goodrich Crane; mother-in-law Helen Marriner Russell; sister-in-law Cheryl Marriner Beveridge and her husband Steve Beveridge; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins on both sides of his family.

A Memorial Service will be held at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday February 4, 2020, in the River Run Lodge at the base of Bald Mountain.

The best way to honor Tobey is to play hard, live well, and take care of your business.