Beryl Dean Cragg

Reverend Beryl D. Cragg

Reverend Beryl D. Cragg age 77 of Kirksville, Mo passed away Thursday morning (April 5, 2012) at the Kirksville Manor Care Center.

Beryl was born on April 16, 1934 in Kirksville, the son of Dean and Lucille Carner Ratliff Cragg. On July 5, 1958 in Oskaloosa, IA Beryl was united in marriage to Barbara Joyce Meeker who survives. He is also survived by five children: Cheryl Cragg of Kirksville, MO, Michele Cragg of Kahoka, MO, Randy Cragg and wife Karen of Grain Valley, MO, Kevin Cragg and wife Karen of Independence, MO and Tim Cragg of Independence, MO: four grandchildren Kaylee, Josh, Zechariah and Zander Cragg; four brothers and sisters Tom Cragg and wife Nita of Gallatin, MO, Linda Chance and husband Charles of Virginia Beach, VA, Judy Wellman and husband Richard of Quincy, IL and Janet Bean and husband Ron of Chicago, IL; mother-in-law Fern Meeker of Moulton, IA: Brother-in-law and sister-in-laws Judy and Terry Platt of Moulton, IA and Beverly Meeker of Oskaloosa, IA. He also is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother.

Beryl was reared in Kirksville where he attended the Kirksville schools graduating from the Kirksville Senior High School in the class of 1952. He continued his education at Kirksville Teachers College where he graduated in 1956. He taught school in Fremont, IA and Knoxville, IL. After the death of his father he returned to Kirksville to run his father’s business with his brother - Cragg Window Company, in addition to installing water softeners and siding. In 1968, he became a clergyman in the United Methodist church and served the churches of Callao, Mt Zion, Milam Chapel, Brashear, Hurdland, Sabbath Home, Bullion, Kahoka, Fairmont, Luray, Wyaconda and Clarence. In 2009 he retired after serving in the ministry for 41 years.

He was a former member of the Brashear and Wyaconda Lions Club, Kahoka Kiwanis Club and Clark County Ministerial Alliance. He was a member of the Missouri General Conference of the United Methodist Church. Beryl enjoyed attending high school sporting events and took great pride in supporting the teams.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday (April 9, 2012) at the First United Methodist Church with Reverend Richard Northcutt and Reverend Delbert Earlywine officiating. Interment will be in the Fort Madison Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Larry Sykes, Rick Fischer, Terry Mefford, Rick Kemp, Lee Schoonover, and Raymond Magruder. Honorary Pallbearers will be Kermit Hiatt, Harry Holman, Donald Dieterich, Donald Thompson, Carroll Nixon, Tom Cross, John Richard Akins, Larry Platz and Raymond Salter.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday (April 8, 2009) at the Davis-Playle-Hudson-Rimer-Funeral Home, 2100 E. Shepherd Ave., Kirksville, Mo 63501 660-665-2233

Memorials may be given to any church that the Reverend Cragg had served.