Clyde Craver's Obituary
Clyde Vest Craver, age 98 of Centerville, Iowa died Sunday, May 6, 2007 at Centerville Nursing and Rehab Center, Centerville, Iowa, where he had been a resident since October 2002.
Clyde was born in Centerville, Iowa on November 26, 1908, the son of Earnest Vest and Clara Arthelia (Messer) Craver. He attended Appanoose County Rural Schools, including the Beard, Exline, Wright and Ervin Schools. On March 28, 1936 he was united in marriage to Marguerite Buttel in Centerville, Iowa. In early life Clyde worked in the wheat fields of Kansas and North Dakota in the summer and in the coal mines in the winter, including the Mendota Number 5 mine at Mendota, Missouri and the Big Tom mine at Cincinnati, Iowa. For a time, Clyde and his twin brother, Claude, operated the Prospect Coal Mine, which was located in Pleasant Township in Appanoose County, Iowa. He then worked as an automobile mechanic in Centerville, for Dwight Selix, Carmer's, Boyd O'Briant and Jack Morris Motors from where he retired in 1973. After retirement he continued to work part-time at Morris Motors and part-time for Fred ""Red"" Simmons, assisting him in his masonry construction business. He was a member of Appanoose County Historical Society. Clyde enjoyed taking vacations to South Dakota and Colorado with his family. He also enjoyed gardening and spending time with his cats and dogs, including Gi Gi and Beadie.
Clyde was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marguerite, on February 24, 1991; a son, Richard Clyde Craver, on February 3, 1960; three brothers, Noah, Claude and Orville (Bud) Craver; two sisters, Irene Anderson and Wilma Love. Clyde is survived by two sons, Donald and Gary Craver of Centerville, Iowa; two grandsons, Robert (Bonnie) Craver of Seymour, Iowa and Jeffrey Craver of Centerville, Iowa; three granddaughters, Christina Craver of Kansas City, Missouri, Pamela (Richard) Pauley of Centerville, Iowa and Donna (David) Pettibone of Moravia, Iowa; a sister, Freda Miller of Jefferson City, Missouri and a sister-in-law, Bernice Craver of Exline, Iowa. He is also survived by thirteen great grandchildren and ten great great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 1:30 PM Thursday, May 10, 2007 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Centerville, Iowa with Father Ron Will officiating. A visitation will be held Wednesday evening at the Thomas Lange Funeral Home with the family present from 6-8 PM. Burial will follow in the Oakland Cemetery in Centerville. In Lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Appanoose County Historical Society or the Drake Public Library. Memorials can be left at or mailed to the Thomas Lange Funeral Home, 1900 S. 18th St., Centerville, Iowa 52544. Condolences may be left on-line at thomaslangefuneralhome.com.
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