Boyd Crafton

Boyd Oscar Crafton, 100, passed away Tuesday, March 22, 2016, in Houston.

He was born Nov. 17, 1915, in Oran, Missouri, son of Lawrence Frederick Crafton and Nona Moore Crafton.

He was predeceased by his parents; his brothers, Walter, Audra and Buddy; and his wife of almost 55 years, Edith Revelea Rainey. Edith passed away June 9, 1994, in Houston.

Boyd graduated from Oran High School in 1933, third in his class. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corp in 1935 and worked on projects in Minnesota, Nevada, California and Missouri. After marrying on Aug. 23, 1939, he and Edith lived in Wentzville, Missouri, for a couple of years, then moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where they worked for contractors involved in the massive effort to build the atomic bomb that ended World War II.

After the war, Boyd went to work as an accountant/business manager with H.F. Ferguson Co. and worked with them until his retirement in 1979. During that time, they lived in approximately 20 locations around the United States where Ferguson built industrial plants for various owners. He loved this job because it afforded the opportunity to experience life in many places. They had one daughter, Audrey Lea.

He and Edith retired to Bryan, Texas, where Audrey was working at the time of his retirement. Later, Boyd, Edith and Audrey moved to Spring, Texas, when Audrey took a job in Houston.

During his retirement, he was always busy with home improvements and restoring antiques that they were constantly collecting.

Before Edith’s death, they traveled quite a bit to see relatives and friends all over the U.S. After her death, Boyd enjoyed the annual trip to Missouri with his daughter, who is an avid genealogist. He enjoyed the several family reunions, the Oran School reunion and visiting family and friends in the area.

Boyd is survived by his daughter; his sister-in-law, Barbara Venable and her husband, Don, of Scott City; his sister-in-law Etber LeGrand of Oran; his sister-in-law Zexia Sietman and her husband, Clyde, of Oran; and his brother-in-law, Lail Bernard of Cape Girardeau. He also is survived by Jerry, Leland and Theresa, children of his brother Walter; and many second cousins.

Neither Boyd nor Edith wanted a funeral. Their remains are buried in Friends Cemetery in Oran.