Dr. Robert Jewell Crabtree, 87, formerly of Ames, passed away peacefully on May 13, 2021 at his home in Springfield, MO after a brief illness. He was born June 7, 1933 in Bethany, Missouri to Robert and Golda Crabtree. He graduated from Bethany High School in 1951 and received his Bachelor's degree in Agriculture with a major in Soil Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1959. He completed his Master's at Iowa State University in 1964 and his Ph.D at Michigan State University in 1969. He met Beverly Deles Dernier while an undergraduate at the University of Missouri and they were married June 1, 1958. Jewell began his career as a soil science field researcher at the University of Missouri's Southwest Missouri Research Center. He went on to become an instructor at Michigan State University, an Assistant Professor at Central Missouri State University, and an Associate Professor of Agronomy at Oklahoma State University where he served for 15 years until his retirement in 1990. Throughout his career Jewell belonged to numerous professional, honorary and local civic organizations. He was also Bev's biggest cheerleader and confidant. After his retirement, Jewell and Beverly had the good fortune to travel extensively in the U.S. and abroad. Jewell gardened for many years while living in Stillwater and was known for planting enough vegetables to feed the neighborhood. He and Bev were avid fans of the women's basketball teams at Iowa State and Missouri State. He was proceeded in death by his wife of 58 years, Beverly Crabtree, his mother and father, brothers Jerry, Jack and Cecil and sister Betty Crabtree. Jewell is survived by his son Greg Crabtree and wife Ursula of McLean, VA; daughter Karen Kunkel and husband Allen of Springfield, MO; grandchildren Annelisa and Amelia Crabtree and Logan, Braden and Eden Kunkel; his sister Jaynell Schroff and husband Don; brothers and sisters-in-law Paul and Marilyn Hunter and LeRoy and Ruth Deles Dernier, as well as several nieces and nephews. He was loved deeply and will be greatly missed. A visitation for family and friends will be held on Friday, May 21, 2021 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home, 1418 Fawcett Parkway, Nevada, IA. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 22, 2021 at the Nevada Municipal Cemetery, 1026 1st Street in Nevada. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Beverly and R. Jewell Crabtree Scholarship in care of the Iowa State University Foundation, 2505 University Boulevard, P.O. Box 2230, Ames, IA 50010-2230. Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home in Nevada is handling arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.rasmussonfh.com