Johnny Weldon Craig, age 90, of Rogers, Arkansas formerly of Purcell, OK passed away Wednesday, December 19, 2018 after a brief illness. Johnny was born April 22, 1928, in Hasse, Texas. He was the youngest of eleven children born to Charles Coen Craig and Rosa Lee (Henderson) Craig. Being the youngest of eleven, Johnny was nick named “Babe”. He grew up a farm boy where he learned how to work hard. And he kept that same work ethic throughout his life. He attended school in Hasse, Texas and then joined the U. S. Air Force at the age of 18. After proudly serving two years he returned home and married Alice Jean Bodine. They were married on December 20, 1948 in Rockwell, Texas. Together, Johnny and Alice raised four children, Johnny, Phyllis, Rosie and Laura.

Johnny worked most of his life as a truck driver. Throughout his life he did all kinds of trucking, from local truck routes to long hauls. Often staying on the road for days and weeks at a time. He and his family lived in Lubbock from 1948 to 1957. Then in 1957 they moved to Choctaw, OK where they lived for 33 years before moving to Beaver, OK in 1990. While living in Beaver, he worked for an oil company as a production reader for a few years and then went to work on the famous “Barby Ranch”. Johnny loved being in the outdoors and working with his own two hands. Whatever work the ranch needed him to do, Johnny could do it. Whether he was riding horses, working cattle, checking fence lines or farming, Johnny enjoyed it all. At the age of 72, Johnny and Alice decided to move closer to family and in 2000 they moved to Purcell.

Johnny was a faithful Christian and always found fellowship with the local First Baptist Church wherever he was living. After Alice passed away in 2006, Johnny later remarried, marrying Imogene (Williams) Craig. Then in 2008 they moved to Rogers, Arkansas to be close to Imogene’s family.

Johnny will be remembered as a wonderful husband, and a loving father and grandfather. He will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by:

Parents, four sisters and six brothers,

First wife, Alice Craig,

His son and daughter-in-law, Johnny and Pam Craig.

He is survived by:

Wife, Imogene Craig of the home in Rogers, AR.

Three daughters, Phyllis McElroy and husband Howard of Choctaw, OK

Rosie Kane and husband Darrel of Roosevelt, OK

Laura McCullough and husband Steve of Yukon, OK;

8 grandchildren, Chad Craig and wife Kathryn of Choctaw,

Rashawna Dukes and husband Larry of Choctaw,

Brad Craig and wife Seresa of Choctaw,

Tiffany West and husband Steve of Nicoma Park,

Trey Craig of Sulphur,

Chance Shipman and wife Lindsey of Choctaw,

Kristyn Ersteniuk of Fayetteville, AR,

Christopher McCullough of Denver, CO.

9 great grandchildren,

Step children: Mike Craig and wife Joyce, Milton Craig (deceased) and wife Cindy, Genice Stevenson and husband Bennie.

many nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

Graveside funeral services will be 11:00am Saturday, December 21, 2018 at Hillside Cemetery in Purcell. Arrangements are with Wilson-Little Funeral Home in Purcell.
Source: Wilson-Little Funeral Home