Thomas "Tom" Clair Crater

Tom Crater, 71, passed from this life on Tuesday, August 4, 2015, at his home in Lufkin.
Funeral services will be held Friday, August 7, 2015, at Angelina church of Christ in Lufkin at 11:00 a.m. The family will welcome friends and loved ones at 10:00 a.m. Friday morning prior to the service. Interment will follow at the Garden of Memories Memorial Park in Lufkin.
Mr. Crater was born February 16, 1944 in Sutherland, Nebraska to the late Alice Beth (Cady) and Ralph Clair Crater. He graduated from Gilbert High School in Gilbert, Arizona. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Forestry from Northern Arizona University in 1967. He was employed with the Texas Forest Service from 1967 to 1973. He began his Forestry Consulting business in 1973 and continued until his retirement in 2009. Mr. Crater enjoyed working in the forestry industry, but the most rewarding aspect of his career was the relationship he developed with his clients.
Mr. Crater’s greatest love was being a Christian, serving the Lord, and teaching and studying the Bible. He served as an elder for the Angelina church of Christ until his death. Tom was a loving, generous, and kind person who will be greatly missed. He was the kind of son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend every person could ever hope to have.
Survivors include his loving and dedicated wife of 50 years, Donnah (McCulloch) Crater, who cared for him so tenderly and faithfully in their home until the end; daughters and sons-in-law, Julie Shockley and Curtis of Kilgore, Melinda Hartman and Mike of Lufkin, and Kimberly Weine and Eric of Austin; grandsons, David Shockley, Alex Shockley, and Atticus Weine; granddaughters, Claire Hartman, Emily Hartman, Regan Shockley, and Loren Shockley; sisters and brothers-in-law, Kaye and Dave Martin of Mesa, Arizona and Sue and Bill Dunning of Gilbert, Arizona; along with numerous nieces, nephews, other family members, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Pallbearers will be James Due, Ralph Fair, Ellis Reynolds, Alex Weatherford, David Shockley, and Alex Shockley.
Honorary pallbearer will be Joe Ben Vaughan.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Courtney Swann Matthew McCartney Children’s Home in Chippurpali, India, c/o Angelina Church of Christ, India Evangelism, P.O. Box 153238, Lufkin, Texas 75915.
Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.
Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.