Rose Ann Retiring

Today I visited with friend and Crayne postmaster, Rose Ann Bebout, for the last time as our Crayne Postmaster.

 Tomorrow, Sept. 30th, will be her last day.  As she said in her letter to all of us, it will be a bittersweet day for her, ( and also for all her patrons). 

So sad she is leaving, but happy for her future with her family and friends.

Indeed, she has been a blessing to her community of Crayne for all these years.  For the Post Office was the hub of the community, the meeting place.  It's here where the beloved "Crayne Day" was started all those years ago.   With Rose Ann and Peggy as the leaders.  

So many good memories.

So today, I shed a few tears and some laughs and had some of her cake.  

Best Wishes always my friend, you will be missed behind the counter.

Remembering Two Old Crayne Friends

Marvin Duane Ordway, 79, of Crayne, died Aug. 2, 2014 at his home.

He was retired from the U. S. Air Force and was a member of Crayne Community Church.  He is survived by a son, Michael Ordway of Texas; a brother, Carl Ordway of Marion, a sister, Mary Evelyn Ordway of Marion. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Iva Scott Ordway.

A celebration of life service was held at Crayne Community church.

This is a picture of Marvin at the church picnic in Oct. of 2013.  He was a good friend to all his neighbors in Crayne and everyone was always greeted with a friendly hello or a wave of hand as he went by.  

Rest in peace Marvin, you will be missed very much.

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Robert "Bobby" Rorer, 70, of Marion died July 28, 2014 at his home. 

 He is survived by a twin sister, Frances Rorer of Marion.  

Bobby was preceded in death by his parents, Robin and Mary Adams Rorer; a brother, James T. Rorer; and a sister, Mary Catherine Rorer.

 I had known Bobby most all my life, as he and Frances started to school at Crayne the same year that I did and we continued going to school together for the rest of our school years.  

Bobby attended Crayne Community Church and was one of our Church family.  He is buried in the Chapel Hill Cemetery near the rest of his family.  Rest in peace Bobby.

Crayne Cemetery Cleanup

The 3rd Saturday in March, weather permitting, is the annual Crayne Cemetery Cleanup.  Today we had a pretty day.  The sun was shinning and for once the wind wasn't quite as strong as it usually is. 

Thank heavens there usually isn't too much to do, for there is never over 3 of us there to do all the picking up of trash and wind-blown flowers and worn and faded wreaths.

Here Frances Paris Teer, is trying to make a decision on whether this flower arrangement has seen better days and perhaps needs to be put to rest.

 C. W. Stevens another board member is picking up some wind blown flowers.  C. W. is our cemetery care keeper, as he takes care of the mowing and weed eating and also with the selling and placement of the grave plots.

We are all getting older and worry about what will happen to the cemetery once we are gone.

Early Crayneville Depot

The old Crayneville Depot and loading lot.  This picure was made in the early 1900's.

Spar gravel is seen in piles on the right.  Other items shipped from the depot was timbers, and tobacco.  

This first depot was burned by the Night Riders in 1908.

Another one was built back later,  But as far as I know know pictures have even been found of it.  About all the people that remember this later Depot are gone now.  My mother, Evah Lee Brantley,  remembered catching the train here with her Mother, Ethel Brantley, and they would ride the train to the Repton Depot, get off there and walk to the Cave Spring community to visit family and friends.  Come evening time they would walk or ride a cousin's mule back to the Repton Depot, caught a returning train and ride it back to Crayne.

In 1942 this second depot was razed by the Illinois Central System and they would rebuild back only a waiting room and small shed for freight.

Lone Star School Folks

Lone Star School located past the Crayne Cemetery on the Lone Star School Road.  The students that attended there were friends and relatives of the people that lived in Crayne and were considered Crayne Folks.

In 1947 - 1950, Clara Mae Woodall was the teacher. 

She later married Norman Belt and they lived not too far from the Crayne Cemetery for many years.  Their pretty old homeplace is gone now.

This picutre was made in 1957.  The school would close soon afterwards.

The teacher  was Gladys Hillyard.

Back row of boys: J. E. Hunt, Donald Ray Rushing, Charles Rushing.

Front row: Anna Hunt, Martha Strong, Donna Fay Rushing, Bobby Rushing.