CRAIG, Emmett Charles

BENNETT, CRAIG, HATCHER, CORSBIE GORDON, HULLINGER, MCKERN, SHIRLEY, HOFFMAN, GILLILAND, PATTIE

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 6/29/2016 at 21:19:23

Obituary ~ Emmett Charles Craig
April 01, 1911 ~ February 10, 2004

Emmett Charles Craig, son of Percy Edward and Minnie Ethel Bennett Craig, was born April 1, 1911, in Decatur County and died Feb. 10, 2004, at the Clarke County Hospital in Osceola. He was 92.

He grew up quickly, he had to quit school at a young age to help his ill mother with the housework and the other children.

He married Madolyn Jean Hatcher on May 13, 1936, in Decatur County. They became the parents of three daughters, Lois, Roberta, and Joyce. Mr. Craig married Mamie Lorane Corsbie Gordon on Oct. 14, 1962, at Eaglesville, Mo. Her four children, Meryle, Donald, Kenneth and Ronald, became a part of his family. Mr. Craig lived all of his life in Decatur County until he moved to Osceola in 1995.

Throughout his life he did numerous jobs including working for the railroad, owning and operating restaurants in both Leon and Lamoni, deputy sheriff for Decatur County and maintenance work at the Decatur County Hospital.

He was a member of the Masons, Lions Club and Loving Chapel United Methodist Church before transferring to Van Wert United Methodist Church.

In earlier years Mr. Craig enjoyed hunting and fishing and playing cribbage.

Preceding him in death were his parents; five brothers, Basil, Neil, John, Roe and Cletus Craig; and two stepsons, Kenneth and Ronald.

Survivors include his wife of Osceola; five children, Lois Hullinger and her husband, Doug Hullinger, of Davis City, Roberta McKern and her husband, Richard McKern, of Des Moines and Joyce Shirley and her husband, Ray Shirley, of Winnsboro, La., Meryle Gordon and his wife, Freda Gordon, of Osceola and Don Gordon and his wife, Cherry Gordon, of Denver, Colo.

Other survivors are two daughters-in-law, Marilyn Gordon of Denver and Sue Gordon of Nashville, Tenn. two sisters, Berniece Hoffman of Lamoni and Helen Gilliland of Leon; a brother, Willard Craig and companion, Betty Pattie, of Lamoni; 17 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.

Funeral services for Mr. Craig were held at the Slade-O’ Donnell Funeral Home in Leon on Feb. 13, Pastor Jud Stover officiating. Musician was Myrtle Coy and music was Beyond the Sunset and Precious Lord, Take My Hand.

Casket bearers were Mr. Craig’s grandsons, Kevin Hullinger, Troy Hullinger, Rick McKern, Wyatt Dunbar, Rich Gordon, Doug Gordon and Clinton Shirley. Interment was in the Van Wert Cemetery.

A memorial fund has been established by the family.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2016