Services for Lester Craft, 86, of Ada are 10:00 a.m. Thursday at the Colbert Baptist Church, Rev. Bob Payne will officiate. Burial will follow at Swan Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at Criswell Funeral Home.
Mr. Craft passed away passed away Sunday, February 21, 2016 at a local hospital. He was born May 18, 1929 at Olustee to Elmer and Claris Hove Craft. He graduated from Duke High School in 1947 and attended a trade school.
He married Margie Juanita New, April 20, 1949 in Purvis, MS. She preceded him in death November 12, 1991. He later married Metta Ruth Crabb October 31, 1992 in Ada. Mr. Craft was an Electrical Technician and retired as a Foreman with Sun Pipeline. He was a member of the Colbert Baptist Church, the Ada Shrine Temple and the Ada Masonic Lodge and was a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason.
Survivors include his wife, Metta Ruth, of the home; a daughter, Regina Johnson and her husband Michael of Greenville, TX; a son, Eric Craft of Francis; step-daughters, Jacque Cullen and husband Lindsay, Sue Reed and husband Chuck; a sister, Louise Haney of Sulphur, LA; his grandchildren, Chris Craft, Dallas, TX, Nyssa Greenlee, Konawa, Josh Vires and wife Amanda, Seattle, WA, Stevie Carpenter, Francis and Nacobi Craft, Francis, Craig Allen and wife Carie, Yukon, Chris Allen and wife Denae, Yukon, Chad Reed, Allen, TX, and Zack Reed and wife Jill, Temple, TX; and his great-grandchildren, Mila Vires, Jake Eads, Aly Eads, Brea Eads, Sara Greenlee, Hutch Allen, Brody Allen, Regan Reed and Dylan Reed.
He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife; and two brothers, Elmer Craft, Jr. and Harold Craft.
Lester was quietly loved and respected by many and will be greatly missed by all that knew him.
Bearers will be Josh Vires, Chris Craft, Craig Allen, Chris Allen, Greg King and Chad Reed. Honorary bearers will be Bob Hooser, James Tooley and Hubert Schutte.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida 33607.
Obituaries may be viewed and online condolences sent to criswellfh.com.
Criswell Funeral Home, Ada
