OWEN W. CRITES

JACKSON: Owen W. Crites, age 85, of Jackson, passed away Thursday, October 14, 1999 at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. Mr. Crites was born on November 5, 1913 in Cape Girardeau County, the son of Oscar and Selma Keller Crites. On December 9, 1934, he married Gretchen Brooks in Cairo, Illinois. She passed away on July 22, 1992.

Throughout their lives, Owen and Gretchen lived in several local communities - Burfordville, Bessville, Oak Ridge, Fruitland and Jackson. The Lord blessed them and with each move, the Crites were able to build a new or improved home and farm. They became active serving in the area churches and communities, leaving each having formed many lasting friendships. Some of the churches they served were Fairview Methodist, northwest of Burfordville; Old Salem Methodist, north of Millersville; and Wesley United Methodist east of Fruitland. Owen also enjoyed fellowship with the Jackson General Baptist Congregation, while living more recently in Jackson.

Mr. Crites served in the United States Navy from January, 1944 through January, 1946, during WWII. In 1971, he moved from Cape Girardeau to Jackson and farmed for a number of years, west of Fruitland. He had worked as Manager at the former Superior Electric in Cape Girardeau and at Bumpatell (now Magna-Tel) as a Plant Manager and Vice President of Marketing. After he retired, he served as an Aide at St. Francis Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

Survivors include a sister, Virginia Dot Giddings of Bridgeton, Mo.; 2 half-brothers, Olan Weldon Crites of Southhaven, Miss.; and Frank Crites of Carbondale, Ill.; a half-sister, Thelma Pat Niswonger of Cape Girardeau; a step-sister, Marie Whitten of Golden Colo.; and number of nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson between 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 16th. The funeral will be Sunday, October 17th at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home with Rev. Richard Combs and Rev. Luther Rhodes officiating. Interment will follow in Hobbs Chapel Cemetery north of Cape Girardeau.

Prior to his death, Mr. Crites established an educational scholarship fund, the "Owen and Gretchen Crites Scholarship Fund." Expressions of sympathy may be given to the scholarship fund or the Wesley United Methodist Church.