Obituaries

This obituary was lovingly written by the deceased's daughter:

"My father, Fred Cravener, passed away yesterday, June 27th, in the arms of his loving wife, Cheryl Johns Cravener. After 60 years of living life together, she took on the amazing challenge to care for him at home as his physical body failed him. My father was born in March of 1948 and lived his young life on the "wrong side of the tracks" in small town Pennsylvania amongst coal mines and steel mills. He rose from poverty with the help of good people who taught and coached him. He told tales of the "good cops" who helped him through the challenges he faced daily as a young man in a hard environment. Using his God given athletic abilities he earned a football scholarship to the University of New Mexico where he studied early childhood education, much like his hometown heroes. When he returned home he was given the opportunity to be a salesman for the yellow pages where he found his calling and made a lucrative career for himself representing various companies throughout the years until he created his own businesses. These endeavors made it possible for him to do what he loved most which was to spend time with his family, especially his grandchildren who were the light of his life. Loading ALL of them up in an RV for many trips around the country was his favorite pastime. During his last days on Earth, he was surrounded by his loved ones, as he wished. My mother, Cheryl; brother, Grant Cravener and his wife, Karen; myself [Theresa Paterson] and my husband, Iain Paterson; his granddaughters, Chelsea Hawthorne, Hanna Johnes, Haley Foster, Sarah Ruth Foster, Eva Miriam Foster, their families; and his step-grandsons, Jimmy and Kris. Step-grandson, Dean Paterson, was missed, as was grandson, Logan Cravener, as he is currently at sea in the US Navy. He is survived by his brother, William Bill Cravener. According to his wishes, there will be no service. His ashes will be scattered on the Gulf of Mexico where he loved to fish and boat with his family and friends. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the NRA (https://donate.nra.org/donate) or the Gary Senise Foundation (https://www.garysinisefoundation.org/donate/) in his honor.