George Marion Cravens & Minnie Adlee Cox

George Marion Cravens b. 3 May 1881 d. 25 Oct 1967 Buried: Prairie View Cemetery, Logan Co., AR. Married: 29 Nov 1903 Logan Co., AR Father: Joseph Cravens Mother: Martha Amanda Ann Hampton

Wife: Minnie Adlee Cox b. 23 Feb 1883 d. 17 May 1982 Logan Co., AR Buried: Prairie View Cemetery, Logan Co., AR

Children

Minnie Edith Cravens b. 3 Oct 1903 d. 18 Jun 1995 Buried: Prairie View Cemetery, Logan Co., AR

Mary Elizabeth Cravens b. 13 Sep 1910 d. 15 Apr 1992 Buried: Prairie View Cemetery, Logan Co., AR

John Marion Cravens b. 12 Aug 1916 d. 15 Nov 1963 Buried: Prairie View Cemetery, Logan Co., AR Married: 28 Jun 1947

Wife: Louise McGee b. 1922 d. ? Buried: Prairie View Cemetery, Logan Co., AR

Ruth Ann Cravens b. 20 Nov 1921 d. 29 Jul 2010 Married: 6 Mar 1943 Buried: Prairie View Cemetery, Scranton, Logan Co., AR

Husband: John Winfred McNeal b. 22 Jul 1919 d. 24 Apr 2004 Paris, Logan Co., AR Buried: Prairie View Cemetery, Scranton, Logan Co., AR

George Marion Cravens was a farmer west of Prairie View. He was elected the school board director on 17 May 1919. He and his wife kept a journal of daily events.

Mary Elizabeth Cravens was a teacher for 45 years and retired in 1977

John Marion Cravens served in WWII. He graduated from the University of Arkansas, became an extension agent

Ruth Ann Cravens and John Winfred McNeal were teachers and graduated the University of Arkansas. They taught at Scranton, AR. They moved many times; travelling to Iowa, Mobile, AL, Indiana, Minnesota. By 1981, they returned to Prairie View. One worked at the John Hubbard Milling Company.

The Paris Express, dated 20 May 1982, “Minnie Adelee Cravens, 99, Prairie View died May 17, at Paris. She was the widow of the late George Cravens. Survivors: Daughters: Edith Cravens, Mary Cravens & Ruth McNeal, all of Prairie View. She was preceded in death by one son, John M. Cravens. Funeral services at Prairie View Methodist Church & burial at Prairie View Cemetery”.

Ruth Ann Cravens McNeal, 88, of Paris passed away on Thursday, July 29, 2010 surrounded by loving family. She was born November 20, 1921, in Prairie View, AR. Ruth was a member of the First Christian Church of Paris. Ruth was a lifelong learner and educator. She graduated from Scranton High School, Arkansas Polytechnic College in Russellville and from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science degree. Ruth worked in both the Scranton and Bentonville School systems in her early teaching career. After staying home to raise their only child Ruth returned to school and received her Master of Science Degree from Mankato State University, Mankato, Min., and served as an Assistant Professor, Assistant to the Dean of Education, and Department Chair of the Home Economics Department. In 1979 she received the Outstanding Faculty Award from Mankato State University. Ruth returned to Prairie View with her husband, John, and even though she was officially retired, she became heavily involved with the Paris Library Board, the Logan County Historical Society, Extension Homemakers Club, PEO, Prairie View Cemetery and numerous church activities. In 1999, John and Ruth McNeal received the Golden Harvest Award in recognition of many years of service to others. Ruth loved to travel, quilt, sew, cook and discuss how to solve the problems of the world. She always enjoyed remembering the lively discussions among her numerous friends around the “round table”. It was important to Ruth to preserve the past, and she researched and published a genealogical document on the Joseph Cravens Family and the history of Prairie View. Ruth was a strong willed, talented, organized, artistic, generous, hard working woman, wife, mother, Mimi, teacher, care-giver, survivor, volunteer and true southern lady. She touched many lives and will be truly missed. Ruth was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-one years, John W. McNeal; her parents, George M. and Minnie A. Cravens; a brother, John M. Cravens; and two sisters, Mary Elizabeth and Minnie Edith Cravens. A celebration of life service was held on Tuesday, August 3, at 10 a.m. at the First Christian Church in Paris with Pastor H.C. Varnadore and Rev. Earl Carter officiating. Burial was at Prairie View Cemetery in Prairie View under the direction of Roller Funeral Home of Paris. Ruth is survived by her daughter, Judy Cross and husband Darwin of Paris; one grandson, Michael Boswell and one great-granddaughter, Ciara Boswell, both of Scranton; many nieces and nephews, her close cousin network, and many friends. The family of Ruth McNeal is grateful to Ruth’s caregiver, Kelly McGehee, who helped care for Ruth the past many years. Pallbearers were Darwin Cross, Pat McHughes, Joe Kearney, Richard Scott, Eric Street and Bill Warren. Paris Express

Winaford E. Lee & James L. Cravens
Joseph Cravens & Martha Amanda Ann Hampton
Nehemiah Cravens & Sophia Thompson

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