John J. Crowley

Fr. John J. Crowley (December 8, 1891 - March 17, 1940), often referred to as the Desert Padre, was an early 20th century Catholic priest in California's large but sparsely populated Eastern Sierra and Death Valley. He served there from 1919 to 1924, and again from 1934 through 1940.

Crowley is remembered for his efforts to help improve the economic well-being of Eastern Sierra residents whose lives had been adversely affected by the diversion of water from the Owens Valley to the rapidly growing but water-deficient Los Angeles area (see: California water wars). Killarney, Co. Kerry, Ireland who came to Worcester, Massachusetts, with his family when he was 11 years old. He was the eldest of 4 brothers and 4 sisters. His father died only a few years after immigration, leaving the family in difficult economic conditions. John took a family leadership role and "learned responsibility that served him well in his later career". Inyo Associates still meets regularly today at revolving locations around the county, and now welcomes representatives from any organization within the Owens Valley to speak about their group and socialize with other participants. To accommodate for the county's large size, the meetings are now held at various halls and community centers throughout the area. Father Crowley Monument at Inyokern near the site of his death as it appeared in September 2025.

Death On Saturday 16 March 1940, Crowley attended the funeral of his friend Sister Anna in San Francisco. He then began driving back to Inyo County, intending to lead the 6:30AM mass in Death Valley the following morning. Crowley died instantly. He was 48 years old.

Legacy His efforts in the Eastern Sierra centered largely on enhancing tourism to the area, which includes the lowest geographical point, in Death Valley, and the highest point (at that time, among the 48 states), Mount Whitney. Nature lovers, campers, hikers, and sport fisher persons were addressed and stars in the many movies filmed in the area

Father Crowley Monument Several weeks after Crowley died, Civilian Conservation Corps Company 3223 "erected a cement cross with a three tiered-dais of native rock beside the highway where he had been killed." The cross was dedicated at a memorial event on the first anniversary of his death, and was attended by about 100 people.

Father Crowley's lupine This rare lupinus species, officially classified as Lupinus padre-crowleyi in 1945 and commonly called Father Crowley's lupine, occurs in a few high elevation areas on the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada.