Lester James Cramer, 77, of Smithton, died Friday, January 2, 2004 at Bothwell Regional Health Center.
He was born October 26, 1926, in Sedalia, son of Lester James Sr. and Marie Greer Cramer. On June 2, 1946, in Ft. Payne, Alabama, he married Barbara E. Ferguson, who survives of the home.
Mr. Cramer was a member of Providence Baptist Church near Clifton City, where he served as a Deacon, Sunday School superintendent and teacher. He was a charter member of the Harmony Baptist Association and Providence Cemetery Association. He was a 1944 graduate of Smith-Cotton High School. He served in the United States Navy during WWII as Chief Petty Officer in the Asian Pacific Theatre, where he received a Victory Medal. He worked for K.E. May Heating and Air Conditioning for 35 years, ACR for 5 years and Home Heating until his retirement. He loved to garden and fish and had lived most of his life in the Sedalia area.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara Cramer, of the home; three daughters, Barbara Ramirez, of Sedalia, Darlene Hillman, of Springfield, and Ruth Ann Cooper, of Smithton; a son, William James Cramer, of Sedalia; nine grandchildren; and three great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by four sisters, June Klein, Jean Parker, Patty Jo Glover and Darlene, in infancy.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, January 5, 2004, at the Providence Baptist Church with the Rev. Farrie Cole and the Rev. Marlin Brown officiating.
Pallbearers will be Dale Phillips, Jerry Martin, Chuck Schneider, Justin Williams, John Cline, Tracy Cooper, Leland McDaniel and Rob Brown. Honorary pallbearers will be Peter Cooper, Jeff Statler, Scott Hillman, Shaun Adams, Salvador Ramirez and Paul Adams.
Burial will be in Providence Cemetery, with military rites conducted by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2591.
The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at Providence Baptist Church.
Memorial contributions may be given to the family in care of Heckart/Gillespie Funeral Home.
