Merle Cravens, 83, of Arkansas City, Kansas, died Monday, February 11, 2009 under the care of her family and hospice in Dexter, Kansas. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 14th at the Hawks-Shelley Funeral Home in Arkansas City with Pastor Norman Reeves officiating. Burial will be in the Parker Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday at the Hawks-Shelley Funeral Home in Arkansas City. Merle was born on December 17, 1925 - the daughter of Lawrence and Myrtle Ford Cleveland in Big Cabin, Oklahoma. She went to school in Pineville, Mo., and was a 1944 graduate of Pineville High School. Merle worked for Boeing for a short time before getting married. On March 5, 1945, she was united in marriage with Wayne Cravens in Miami, Okla. The couple moved to Arkansas City in 1970. Merle worked at Windsor Court, where she made many friends. Merle was known for cooking (especially pies), taking care of her family and enjoying bingo. Surviving to honor her memory are her sons Roy Cravens and wife Nina of Arkansas City and Jason Cravens and wife Tracy of Dexter, Kan.; daughters Donna Stubbs of Arkansas City, Waynetta Sims of Haysville, Lynn Hill of Haysville, Sonya Scott and husband Randy of Arkansas City and Kimberly Hutchinson and husband Michael of Arkansas City; twin brother Sterle "Frank" Cleveland and wife Delores of Kentucky; sisters Stella McFerren and Claudetta Hall and husband Bobby, both of Lawton, Kan.; 25 grandchildren; numerous great-grand- and numerous great-great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death are her parents, husband Wayne (in 2007), daughter Carolyn Hiatt (in 2000) and sons-in-law Michael Stubbs and Robert Hill.

A memorial has been established with Hospice Care of Kansas. Contributions can be left with the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of Hawks-Shelley Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent at www.hawksfuneralhome.com.