James Crawford

James Doyle Crawford, 82, of Wappapello, Mo., formerly of Kennett, died Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at his residence.

Mr. Crawford was born Dec. 22, 1925, in Kennett, and was of the Baptist faith. He was a former owner and operator of a transport truck, and had retired as a farmer and thoroughbred horse trainer. He was also a veteran of the United States Army having served during World War II; member of VFW; member of Overland Occidental Lodge 623; and member of Teamsters Union 600, in St. Louis. Mr. Crawford enjoyed playing cards, watching Cardinal's baseball, horse racing, fishing and hunting.

On Sept. 5, 1952, in Esther, Mo., he married Norma Ruth Hovis, who survives.

Other survivors include four children, Debra Linn Huntebrinker and husband, William and Dennis Ray Crawford and wife, Susan, all of Florissant, Mo., Jerry Dean Crawford and wife, Ranae, of Cahokia, Ill., and Terry Lee Crawford, of Wappapello; 13 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren; a sister, Juanita Hendrix, of House Springs, Mo.; two half-sisters, Judy Holt, of Kennett and Sandra Niermeyer, of St. Cloud, Fla.; six half-brothers, Gerald Crawford, of Batesville, Ark., Jerry Crawford, of Osceola, Ark., Allen "Mick" Crawford, Jack Crawford and Tony Crawford, all of Kennett and Lannie Crawford, of Mountain Grove, Mo., and a close family friend, Judy Jones.

Mr. Crawford's parents, Millard and Maude Williams Crawford; brother, Bill Crawford; step-mother, Lillie Crawford; half-sister, Betsy Grigsby and half-brother, Ricky Crawford preceded him in death.

A Masonic Service will begin at 6 p.m., today, Thursday, April 17, at Wappapello Cotrell Funeral Chapel with visitation following until 8 p.m. The funeral service will be at 9 a.m. Friday, April 18, at the Wappapello Chapel with the Rev. Jimmy Gilbert officiating. Burial with full military honors will be at 1:45 p.m. Friday at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, in St. Louis, Mo..

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.cotrellfuneralservice.com.