Obit of Criswell, Kenneth - Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 10 Apr 2011 Return to Pottawatomie County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/pottawatomie/pottawatomie.htm ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Sunrise Cemetery--Fortuna CA Kenneth Criswell Kenneth Criswell was born August 22, 1926, to Bennie Criswell and Minnie Mae Brock Criswell in Oklahoma. He passed away at home on September 12, 2007, in Hydesville with his family at his side. Ken lived his first few years in and around McComb, OK. Moving west with his parents to White City, NM, then to Phoenix, AZ, living with his family and others under a bridge during the worst part of the depression. In the early 1940's they moved to Visalia, CA, working as farm laborers. Being the only son, Ken was the main provider for his family at an early age and therefore instead of military service during WWII he went to work at Polack's shipyard in Stockton, CA, as a journeyman painter. He later worked in Washington and Oregon in lumber mills finally coming to Scotia in 1951. He married Berta Millican in 1954 and started a family deciding to stay put "for the time being". After living in and around Rio Dell for four years, he moved his family to Hydesville and lived on Klein Lane the reminder of his life. That is where he built a house beginning the river rock fireplace the day his daughter Kendra was born. Although Ken lacked a formal education, he was quite talented. He loved building things, sometimes inventing something that worked better than what was originally there. Before electronics were added to cars, he never took his to a garage to be fixed. He was a very good mechanic. Ken was a member of the Fortuna Missionary Baptist Church and, although he got stage fright every time, one of his greatest joys was the years he and his sons played their guitars and the family sang specials for the church. Ken was looking forward to meeting his Savior and being able to walk the streets of Heaven. He is survived by his wife, Berta Criswell; two sons, Dan and his wife Sandee of Fortuna and Darrold of Hydesville; his daughter, Kendra of Hydesville; grandchildren, Jason Criswell of Santa Rosa, Dannon Criswell of Eureka, Ciara Criswell and her fiancé Jason Smith of Fortuna, Amy Demant and her husband Zac of Seaview, WA, Kent Campbell of Lodi, CA, and Chad Campbell of Ferndale; and his step grandchildren, Patty Rydelius of Sacramento, Debbie and her husband Bobby King of McKinleyville, and Jim Rydelius of Eureka. Ken also had four step great-grandchildren. Other relatives include his sister, Thelma and husband Burlin Keys; brothers-in-law, Keith and George Millican; sisters-in-law, Mary Hall and Berniece Trogden; and numerous other relatives in Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, Oklahoma, and California. Ken was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Mildred Yarbro and Audrey Gross. Friends are invited to gather Sunday September 15, 2007, from 1:00-4:00 PM and Monday from 9:00 to 12:00 Noon for visitation and reflection at Goble's Fortuna Mortuary in Fortuna. Graveside services will be held at 1:00 PM Monday September 17, 2007, at the Sunrise Cemetery in Fortuna. In lieu of flowers, a potted plant or donations may be made to Hospice of Humboldt, 2010 Myrtle Avenue, Eureka, CA 95501; or The Cancer American Society (Prostate Cancer Research), 2942 F Street, Eureka, CA 95501, would by greatly appreciated. Please sign the guestbook online at www.times-standard.com, click on obituaries. Published in the Eureka Times-Standard on 9/14/2007. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Pottawatomie County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/pottawatomie/pottawatomie.htm