Richard Lee Crees 1939-1962

CREES, HOCKETT, MITCHELL, GRIFFIN, CLABAUGH, BASSETT, MOORE

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 9/18/2011 at 21:51:22

Crash Fatal to Former Local Resdient
Richard Crees, former Estherville resident, died in a San Bernardino, Calif. hospital Friday as a result of injuries received when the car Crees was driving left the road and struck a power pole Friday night. Crees was believed to have been driving home from work in Los Angeles when he fell asleep at the wheel of his auto.

Crees’ first wife, the late Wanda Hockett, died Jan. 31 in a Des Moines hospital of pneumonia. Crees later married the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Mitchell of Estherville. She survives as does a son, Richard Jr., by his first marriage.

His body will be brought back to Estherville for burial. Sternborg-Reese Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, May 28, 1962)

Crees Rites Saturday
Funeral services for Richard Crees, 23, former local resident, who died as a result of injuries received in a traffic accident in California Friday night, are set for 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Christian church in Estherville. The Rev. Lester D. Strubhar will officiate with burial to be in the East Side Cemetery. Friends may call at the Sternborg-Reese Funeral home after 10:00 a.m. Friday. Survivors include his widow, a son, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Creal Crees of California; three brothers, Bobby, Randy and Ronald; and three sisters, Mrs. Creoletta Bassett, Mrs. Mary Clabaugh and Carol Crees. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, May 29, 1962)

Funeral Services Held Here for Richard Crees
Richard Lee Crees, 23, died May 26 at Riverside, Calif. as a result of injuries received in a car accident.

He was the son of Creal and Margaret [Griffin] Crees, born March 14, 1939 in Decatur County.

In 1945 he moved with his family to Emmet County where he attended the Estherville schools.

On May 9, 1956 he entered the United States Navy, receiving his discharge on April 14, 1960.

He was united in marriage to Wanda Mae Hockett on March 20, 1958. She preceded him in death. One son, Richard Lee Junior was born to this union.

In August, 1958 he moved to Des Moines where he lived for a few months before he went to Riverside, Calif. where he made his home. On March 9, 1962 he was married to JoAnn Kay Mitchell of this city.

Survivors include his wife and son; his parents; three brothers, Ronald, Bobby and Randy, all at home; three sisters, Mrs. Donald (Mary) Clabaugh of Rantoul, Ill., Mrs. William (Crealetta) Bassett III of Riverside, Calif., and Carol at home. Three nieces and two nephews, his grandfather, Grover Crees of Osceola, and a grandmother, Mrs. Loyd Moore of Decatur, and several aunts and uncles also survive.

Services were held Saturday at the Christian Church in Estherville. The Rev. Lester D. Strubhar officiated and burial was in East Side cemetery. (Estherville Daily News, Estherville, IA, June 4, 1962)