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Roy Craft dies Christmas day Roy at Centennial Ball Nov. 11. by Ed McLarney helped them all. legitimate newspaper, a Kodiak, Alaska. former Editor/Publisher, Roy Craft was born Nov- positive addition to the small Craft assisted in the Skamania County Pioneer ember 12, 1908, to Alpha town. planning for the Kiska Funeral services for Roy Miranda (Roberts) and The paper was passed campaign (Alaska), Marshall Dale Craft, 81, of Stevenson, Kenneth Dale Craft. He was an along when the boys went off Islands invasion (Pacific were conducted at the identical twin. His brother, to college. Theatre), including the very Stevenson High School Ray, preceded him in death, in Craft enrolled at the Uni- successful Kwajalein Gymnasium, Friday, Dec. 29. December, 1945, as the result versity of Oregon and was operation; the Normandy Roy Craft died Christmas day, of a military aircraft crash in a promptly hired by the local invasion and the battle against Monday, Dec. 25, 1989, at snowstorm near Billings, newspaper, the Eugene Nazi Germany in Europe. Hood River Memorial Mont., on his way home from Register-Guard, as assistant In recognition of Craft’s Hospital, in the presence of the European Theater. sports editor. Shortly success with the small his wife of 55 years, Gracie, The twin sons were born thereafter, he was promoted to newspapers, his journalistic who was at his bedside. in McCleary, Wash. where editor of the sports section, back-ground and assistance to Craft and his wife owned their father owned a shingle much to the delight of his the military and civilian press, the Skamania County Pioneer mill. Sigma Chi fraternity brothers. Craft was named Editor of newspaper in Stevenson from His early years were filled Working at the newspaper Stars and Stripes in Europe 1958 to 1974. with the sorts of adventure helped pay his way through after the German defeat. He had been in ill health boys enjoy in a small-town college and provided Following discharge from for more than a year because and country environment. He additional journalistic back- active service in 1945, Lieu- of respiratory problems, but was precocious, and at an ground. tenant Colonel Craft moved to the editor emeritus continued early age could recite long After college, he married Hollywood, Calif., where he an active interest in life and lines of poetry and was an Gracie Taylor of Beaverton, was a correspondent for Life pursued his journalistic avid reader. He had an ability Ore., moved to San Francisco magazine. Later he was a endeavors, including a weekly to write with mature with his bride and took a job publicist for several motion column for the Skamania competence about his with the San Francisco Exam- picture studios, among them County Pioneer, until his observations while just a boy. iner newspaper. 20th Century Fox where, for passing. This exceptional ability In 1932 Craft received a five years, he was in charge of The Friday service was a and an ability to work with commission in the U. S. Army publicity for Marilyn Monroe. testimony to his work in the people resulted in Roy, Ray, as a Second Lieutenant in After some 12 years of “life community and elsewhere. and a friend, Bob Cooper, Military Intelligence. in the fast lane,” Craft sought a Friends and family gathered to starting a newspaper in Major General Charles return to the Pacific North- offer their condolences to McCleary when they were Corlett chose Craft to be his west, and, after considerable Gracie and to say a last only 16 years old. The aide when Corlett assumed searching, he and Gracie farewell to a man who had McCleary Stimulator was a command of the Army post in purchased the Skamania County Pioneer in 1958. American Legion, Professional “outstanding contributions Rev. Leah Mikel. A friend of 25 In 1974 they decided to Journalism Society, Washing- toward furthering the purpose years, Edward McLarney, return and sold the ton State Newspaper Associa- and objective of the Lewis and provided the eulogy. publication to Ed and Peggy tion the National Newspaper Clark Trail Heritage Organist was Luella Reh- McLarney. Association, Publicists Guild, Foundation, Inc.” fuss. Singers were Margaret K. Craft’s accomplishments Clark County Retired Officers Craft had life-long interest McLarney, Bethany Joseph, were many. Although his Association, Sigma Chi, in the out of doors and took Rudd Turner, and Jeff, Erik anecdotes about his war time Oregon-California Trails and great pleasure in observing and Greg Aalvik. experiences were humorous, Associate Member, Oregon and feeding birds and wildlife. Active casket bearers were he had been through it all and Historical Society. He enjoyed the comradeship Harry J. Craft, Gust Mann, Tim was a highly decorated veteran. He was an active member of hunting and fishing. The Todd, Robert K. Leick, Marvin He received the Legion of of the Skamania County His- wild whistling swan, which Morash, George DeGroote, Jim Merit, the French Croix de torical Society and an avid each winter migrate to Franz Joseph and Richard Mezejew- Guerre with V for valor, two supporter of the Skamania Lake near Skamania, were an ski. Bronze Stars, the American County Interpretive Center. especial delight, as was the Honorary casket bearers Defense ribbon with medal, The Don Brown Rosary Collec- spring Canada goose hatch in were Tonnie Lundy, Ed Calla- and an Asiatic Pacific Cam- tion was obtained for the Hegewald Pond in Stevenson. han, Fred Eldridge, Robert D. paign ribbon. Skamania County Museum Roy is survived by his Cooper, Rudy Hegewald, Rich Along with wife Gracie, because of Craft’s interest. He wife, Gracie, of Stevenson; Curran, Carroll M. Craft, Craft pursued a wide variety and Skamania County Com- brothers Carroll M. Craft and Robert Talent, Eran Howell, of projects and other worth- missioner Ed Callahan worked Harry J. Craft, Tacoma; and Ron DeWilde and Tom while endeavors. He recently together to obtain the Emory sisters Doris Taylor, Sequim; Jermann. received the Skamania County and Ruth Strong Collection for and Margaret Carswell, Roy Craft was buried with Chamber of Commerce Life- the Interpretive Center. Tacoma. military honors at Willamette time Achievement Award in Craft was a past chairman There are numerous nieces National Cemetery, Portland, recognition of his outstanding of the Washington State Lewis and nephews. Ore. contribution to the and Clark Trail Committee His godchildren are Ed- Memorials may be made to community. and Past Director of the Lewis ward L. McLarney, Michael A. the Skamania County Inter- He and Gracie were charter and Clark Trail Heritage McLarney, and Margaret K. pretive Center or the Don Leer members of the Skamania Foundation. McLarney, Stevenson. Memorial Scholarship Fund, County Chamber of Com- In 1987, Craft received the Services were conducted both of Stevenson. merce. He was a member of Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage by former Stevenson Method- many other organizations. Foundation, Inc., Distinguish- dost Church pastor, Rev. Carol Among them were the ed Service Award for Davis, and the present pastor, Card of Thanks One of the comforts during times of sorrow is to know that one is not alone. My deepest thanks to those who attended Roy’s service, to Roy’s young friends who rallied to the occasion, to those who helped so generously with the luncheon, sent flowers, cards, memorials and other remembrances. A special thanks to the staff of Stevenson High School for their hospitality and to my special friends who have showed their love and care these past few weeks. Gracie Craft Remembering Roy (The following is the major- Constitution and Bill of under the bridge in the last 25 freshman. Craft was proudly ity of the text of Ed McLarney’s Rights. years, hasn’t it’” he said. “It accepted by the men at Sigma eulogy for Roy Craft.) Roy spent most of his life has been a wonderful Chi fraternity as “our sports We are here today to as either a journalist or in adventure,” I replied. editor at the Guard.” remember Roy Craft. fields associated with journal- Adventure was the name Following his schooling, There are those who make ism. But he was also a soldier, of the game for Roy. His long he went with the San Fran- a difference. Unique men and a highly decorated battle career encompassed many, cisco Examiner, married his women whose interest in veteran of World War II, and a many adventures and gal, Gracie (55 years ago), and, humanity and all that retired Lieutenant Colonel. It experiences, just one of which prior to World War II, joined surround them makes them always impressed me that Roy would have been a memorable the U. S. Army Intelligence partakers of life in the truest concentrated only on and sufficient accom- Service as an officer. He sense. People such as these are humorous aspects of his war plishment in anyone’s became an aide to Major capable of absorbing all that experience. He had seen it all, lifetime. General Charles Corlett and life holds in such a way that in both the Pacific and Roy started his first with the general served in the their enrichment ultimately European theatres, but he did newspaper, along with his Aleutian campaign, the enriches the lives of others. not concentrate on the misery twin brother, Ray, at the age of invasion of Kwajalein (in the Such a man was my best or the suffering or the death, 16 in McCleary, Wash., where Pacific), the Normandy friend, Roy Craft. His legacy to but concentrated instead on his father, Dale Craft, owned a invasion, and the war in us all is a richer life in having the warm and humorous shingle mill.

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