Local businessman Don Crader dies

Donald "Don" Crader, CEO of Crader Distributing Co. in Marble Hill, Mo., and its sister organization, Blue Mountain Equipment in McKinney, Texas, died Sunday at Southeast Hospital. He was 81.

Crader Distributing Co. was founded in 1944 by Buford Crader, Don Crader's father, and two partners, according to the company's website. It is the exclusive distributor of STIHL outdoor power equipment in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Southern Illinois.

The company has done business with many family-owned dealers for about 50 years.

Jim Riley, founder of Red Letter Communications, said in an email to the Southeast Missourian that about 25 years ago, Don and his son Stan Crader gave him one of his first business opportunities, introducing Red Letter Communications to STIHL.

"We've been business associates and friends ever since," he said.

What started with the sale of a few chain saws out of Don Crader's trunk was built into "one of the largest STIHL sales and distribution organizations in the world," but Don measured success by his family, along with his relationships with his employees and the community, Riley said.

Crader was a member of The Gideons International, a supporter of the Southeast Missouri University Foundation and a member of the Harmony Congregational Methodist

Church.

Through his business, Crader was able to support and foster success with thousands of small businesses, Riley said, and he always will remember Crader as a gentleman of unwavering integrity.

"While he built a significant enterprise, I think he measured success in life by what he gave and plowed back into helping others," Riley said. "He was a man of faith, and viewed his life as an incredible blessing and privilege -- he loved his country, he loved the land and people. Most of all he loved his family. I was blessed to know him."

ashedd@semissourian.com

388-3632

Pertinent addresses:

Marble Hill, MO

McKinney, Texas