Mississippi county MO. obit, W.R. McCracken ==================================================================== Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by:Mark Frazier ==================================================================== W.R. McCracken Twice Mayor of City (Charleston, MO) is Dead W. R. McCracken, age 71 years, five months and four days, died Friday, 7:15 p.m. (07 May 1948), while attending a wrestling match at Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis. While he had been under the care of a physician the past three years for a heart aliment, yet his sudden death came as a shock to his family and friends. The remains were returned here Saturday morning to Nunnelee Funeral Chapel and were removed to the home, 510 South Main, late that afternoon where the body laid in state until Monday, 2:30 p.m., when funeral services were held at the Methodist church with the pastor, J.C. Montgomery officiating. Interment was in the Odd Fellows Cemetery with the members of the Lions Club of which the deceased was a member, serving as honorary pallbearers. Willis Ransom McCracken was born December 3, 1876 in Leamington, Ontario, Canada, and was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph McCracken. When he was fourteen years of age he moved with his family to Arkansas (Note: Town of Success, Clay County AR – where he also served as Mayor) where he spent thirty-two years of life. Some twenty-five years ago he moved to this city from Corning, Ark. He engaged in the cotton and oil business and became widely known as a prominent and successful business man of this city. He served two consecutive terms as Mayor of this city, retiring from office when his time expired in April, 1947. He was a Methodist and a friend to man, interested in all civic affairs and donated freely to charity. A kind and considerate husband and father and greatly beloved by this family and friends. He was a great fan for wrestling matches and on Friday had gone to St. Louis to attend the matches. Mrs. McCracken and son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Frazier were with him at the time of his death. He leaves his wife, Mrs. Sylvia Ann McCracken; three daughters, Mrs. W.E. Frazier and Mrs. Carl Layton of this city, and Mrs. W. Pelant of Santa Monica, Calif; eight grandchildren and four great, grandchildren; one brother Ray McCracken of Chicago, Ill., and a number of nieces and nephews. Active pallbearers were: W. E. Frazier, Jr., Robert Frazier, Richard Frazier, Joe Willis Layton, Milford Mehler and Willis Downs. Honorary pallbearers were: Joe Harvey, Hardy Pottinger, Henry Brasher, J.C. McDowell, O.T. Dalton, Sr., Horace Ficklin, Robert Davis and Robert Farmer.