Basil Crites

Willard Basil Crites, 86, of Scott City died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008, at Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Sept. 7, 1922, at Dutchtown, son of Elmer Dale and Dorothy Katherine "Mom" Grojean Crites. He first married Sarah Jane Dickerson May 1, 1947. She died July 25, 1968. He then married Mildred Pinkston Wolfe April 29, 1972. She died Jan. 9, 1997.

Crites was a clerk with the U.S. Postal Service in Scott City. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, VFW Post 6407 and Knights of Columbus Council 6420, all in Scott City.

He retired from the U.S. Navy. He was a veteran of World War II, served aboard the USS Murray, and participated in the Bay of Pigs.

Survivors include a son, Michael Crites of Memphis, Tenn.; four daughters, Dorothy Crites of Cape Girardeau, Jane and Mary Sue Crites and Theresa Echols of Scott City; a stepdaughter, Millie Sue Ancell of Scott City; four brothers, Jerome Crites of Charleston, S.C., Jim Crites of Cahokia, Ill., David Crites of Columbia, Mo., Gregory Crites of Kansas City, Mo.; three sisters, Mary Ann Harris of Cape Girardeau, Nona Walls and Judy Brashears of Scott City; a grandchild; seven stepgrandchildren; and 23 great-stepgrandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son, a stepdaughter, two sisters, a stepgrandchild and a great-stepgrandchild.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Parish prayers will be at 6, and Knights of Columbus service at 6:15.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the church, with the Rev Oliver Clavin officiating. Burial will be in St. Augustine Cemetery at Kelso, Mo., with military graveside rites by Missouri Honors Program.

Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City is in charge of arrangements.