McCRACKEN, Sylvester Basil WWI Navy - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Sylvester Basil McCracken, 87, Route 2, Covington, who resided at Meadow Heights Nursing Center, Williamsport, for the past two months, died at the center on Monday, Feb. 4, at 11:50 p.m.  He had been in failing health since November of 1984.  He was born in Bringhurst, Ind., April 20, 1897, the son of Charles A. and Estella Sylvester McCracken.  He had moved to Attica in 1933 from Bringhurst and had resided in Attica until nine years ago when he moved to Route 2, Covington.  He was a graduate of Bringhurst High School and attended Purdue University.  He taught school for 15 years at Bringhurst, Flora, Camden and Star City.  When he moved to Attica he purchased the A. J. Martin Insurance Agency and worked in insurance until his retirement in 1975.    He was a veteran of World War I, serving in the U.S. Navy.  He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Attica, where he had served as superintendent for seven years and taught an adult Sunday school class for 35 years before moving to Covington.  He was also a member of the Attica-Williamsport Rotary Club, former member of Wabash Lodge No. 708 F.&A.M., he served as president of the school board while in Attica, served as chairman for the Fountain County Red Cross, Northern District of Fountain County and the Fountain County Welfare Board.  He enjoyed gardening, fishing and traveling.  He was married Aug. 27, 1921, in Camden, to Helen Guard, who preceded in death in 1973.  He remarried March 15, 1975, in Neoshia, Mo., to Eloise Smith, who survives.

    Surviving, besides the wife, are one son, James Darwin McCracken, Orange, Calif.; one daughter, Mrs. Jerry (Gwendolyn) Seawright, Walnut Creek, Calif.; two stepdaughters, Mrs. Joe (Sharon) Price, Route 2, Williamsport, and Julie Smith, at home; two stepsons, Thomas and Richard Smith, both of Route 2, Covington; one brother, Mark McCracken, Bringhurst; eight grandchildren, eight step-grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by two daughters, Marilyn McCracken and Jeanette Helms; one son, Joseph McCracken and one brother, Carol.

    Funeral services were held at the Maus Funeral Home, Attica, Friday, Feb. 8, at 1 p.m. with the Rev. R. Larry Smith officiating.  Burial was in Maple Lawn Cemetery in Flora.

    Those so desiring contribute in memoriam to the First United Methodist Church, Attica.  Those who served as pallbearers were Art Clawson Jr., Bob Wolfe, John Busic, Clark Dinwiddie, Harvey Norman, and Jim Christie. - thanks so very much to {S for all her work)