Joe Craft died on Friday, November 13, 2009 at the age of 99.   He was born 99 years earlier on February 3, 1910.  Joe was the youngest of John and Rosetta Craft’s 10 children.  Joe was 15 years younger than his siblings and the only child born on the Deer Creek farm his father homesteaded in the 1893 Cherokee Strip land run.  Joe farmed a portion of his families land until he retired.

Joe was a quiet man with a keen mind and sharp wit, who loved the land, farming, and the outdoors.  He lived most of his life in Deer Creek and Blackwell Oklahoma.  If he wasn’t farming, he was visiting family or friends.  Joe outlived 3 wives and a son. 

Joe’s 1st wife Mary Bradley and their young son were killed in an automobile accident.

Joe and his 2nd wife Henryetta Byers were married for 31 years.  Joe and Henrietta lived, farmed, and raised their son Doyle in Deer Creek for 22 years before moving to Blackwell.  They lead an active social life and celebrated the birth of two granddaughters, Camary Rodgers and Dennicia Craft while living in Blackwell.

Joe and his 3rd wife Dorothy Murray Wilson lived in Blackwell for 36 years.  He and Dorothy traveled with friends for over 20 years.  They eventually returned to their home in Blackwell and parked the trailer.  Joe and Dorothy traveled extensively in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.  They were also able to cruise Alaska, the Caribbean and Hawaii.  Traveling provided them an opportunity to spend a lot of time and holidays with her daughters Theresa Christenson, Rita Freiburger, Mary Jo Byrd and their families.

Shortly after Dorothy’s death in 2006, Joe moved to Touch Mark Independent Living Center in Edmond Oklahoma to spend more time with his son, granddaughters and their families.  Living in Edmond provided Joe with an opportunity to travel and make new friends.  Joe celebrated his 98th and 99th birthdays with over 100 family members and friends in attendance at his parties.  Every year his son booked a bigger room. Joe was really looking forward to celebrating his 100th birthday in February.  He didn’t see his 100th birthday, but everyone that knows him can testify that he lived life to its fullest and touched the lives of everyone he met. 

Joe will be buried with his 3 wives and his son Richard in the Blackwell Cemetery.  A graveside service will be held on Saturday, November 28th at 10:00 A.M. Arrangements are under the direction of the Blackwell Funeral Home, Blackwell, Oklahoma.

Childcare will be provided for young children whose parents prefer that they not attend the graveside service.  Family members will be available to care for children at the Red Cross Building at 9:30 A.M. on Saturday.  All of Joe’s family and friends are invited to attend a dinner honoring Joe at the American Red Cross immediately following the service.  This will be a time to celebrate Joe’s life with laughter, memories, food, friends, family, and football.

The art supplies, children’s games, and televisions used during the dinner will be donated to the Deer Creek Elementary School in Joe’s honor.  Any food left from the dinner will be delivered to the nurses and staff at Hillcrest Manor Nursing Home who cared for Joe’s wife Dorothy. 

Memorials may be made to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation in memory of his wife Henryetta and honoring his granddaughter Camary.  Memorials may be made in care of The Blackwell Funeral Home, 301 West Blackwell Avenue, Blackwell, OK 74631. 

Condolences may be sent to the family using our online guest book at www.blackwellfh.com.