Mr. Eugene S. “Pete” Crayford, age 86 of Potsdam, passed away on Sunday, September 26, 2010 at his residence while under the care of Hospice and Palliative Care of the St. Lawrence Valley.
Calling hours will be held at the Garner Funeral Home on Friday, October 1, 2010 from 4-7 p.m. Funeral service will be held at the Garner Funeral Home on Saturday, October 2, 2010 at 10 a.m. with Rev. Lee Sweeney celebrant. Burial will be October 7, 2010 at 10 a.m. at the Heuvelton Cemetery.
Condolences can be sent online @www.garnerfh.com. Contributions in his memory can be made to the Hospice and Palliative Care of the St. Lawrence Valley, the Disable American Veterans or to the American Cancer Society.
Mr. Crayford is survived by a son, Barry Crayford of Susnet, SC; daughter Karen Ann Rickett of Elk Grove, CA; stepdaughters Barbara Pelsue of Cicero, Bonnie Munson of Colton, and Paula Martin of Potsdam; and five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his wife, Kathleen Thompson who passed June 16, 2002.
Mr. Eugene S. Crayford was born on September 23, 1924 in Ogdensburg, to Claude T. Crayford and Amy Sanderson. He was a graduate of Heuvelton Central School. He served in the United States Navy in the Pacific Ocean during World War II from 1944-1946. On July 4, 1947 at the Heuvelton Methodist Church he married Mary Jane McIlwee. She died in 1984. He then was married to Kathleen Thompson in October of 1985.
Mr. Crayford was retired from the Heuvelton Central School district where he worked in the buildings and grounds department for over 32 years. He was a member and former chief of the Heuvelton Volunteer Fire Department for 38 years. He was past president of the St. Lawrence County Fire Chiefs, a member of the New York State Membership Committee for Fireman, a member of the American Legion, was a life member of the VFW Post #941in Heuvelton, a member of the Shriners, a member of the Disabled American Veterans, a member of the National World War II Museum in Louisiana and a member of the Masonic Van Heuvel Lodge in Heuvelton.
