Omer Craig

Omer Craig, 85, of Goreville passed away at 6:30pm, Monday, November 3, 2003 at his home in Goreville.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00am, Thursday, November 6, 2003 at the Blue Funeral Home in Goreville with Reverend Richard Pearce officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 9:00pm, Wednesday, November 5, 2003 at the funeral home. Burial will be at the Busby Cemetery, south of Goreville.

He was born in a home delivery in Goreville to Leander Dow and Edith (SULLIVAN) Craig on November 2, 1918.

He had five brothers, Albert of Anna, Lloyd Jr. of Goreville, Herschel and Virgil are deceased. Two sisters, Cecile Morgan of Goreville and Mary Lamphere, deceased.

Omer attended Dunn Town and Goreville schools.

He was united in marriage to Hazel Perry in Jackson, Missouri on August 23, 1938.

The Craig's moved from Southern Illinois to Bourbonnais in 1943 where Omer drove a truck and worked on the Huet Farm. While living there , the Craig's were blessed with two children, Michael Ray on April 26, 1944 and Sandra Darlene on December 29, 1947.

The Craig's family returned to Goreville in 1947 and Omer became self-employed as a truck driver hauling coal, gravel and etc. In 1950 he began to drive a truck hauling farmer's fresh milk to the Marion City Dairy in Marion, after 7 years, he began hauling the milk to Prairie Farms Diary in Carbondale for 10 years.

The Craig's sold their farm and moved into Goreville in 1958. Omer sold his coal trucking business to his cousin, Junior Sullivan.

Omer began taking college courses in water treatment at Southern Illinois University, receiving his certificate in 1959. He worked as a Water Superintendent for the village of Goreville for 18 years, before becoming employed at Lake of Egypt Water Department in 1977. He retired in 1992 at the age of 74.

He also worked as a bus driver for JAMP for three years.

Omer served on the Goreville Village Board of Trustees for three terms.

Omer's hobbies were drinking coffee at the local coffee shops and buying old vehicles and cleaning and shining on them.

Omer was a member of the United Pentecostal Church. He began church in his Grandmother Rena Sullivan's farmhouse. Then it moved to the Little Block Church, then Omer purchased land in Goreville and helped build The First Pentecostal Church. He later attended the Lick Creek Pentecostal Church and Landmark Pentecostal Church.

Survivors include his wife, Hazel Craig of Goreville; his children, Mike and Lily Craig and Sandy and Tom Lively all of Goreville; three grandchildren, Gina and Tom Phalin, David and Angie Craig and Shane and Amanda Clark, Omer helped raise Shane and everyone in Goreville said, Shane was his Grandpa's shadow- everywhere Grandpa went Shane followed, they even walked alike.

He also had four great-grandchilren, Charity Plalin, Caleb Phalin, Elisha Craig and Kelli Craig; and several nieces and nephews.