Vetma ONeil (V.0.) Grain

Funeral services for Vetma ONeil (V.O) Crain, 85, of Athens, formerly of Lufkin were held Sunday, December 9, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. in the Carroway- Claybar Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Curt Simmons and Reverend Leymoin Wiggins officiating. Interment with military honors followed in the Whitehouse Cemetery.

Mr. Crain was born November 3, 1922 in Huntington, Texas to Sallie (Kirkland) and Ezra Crain and died Wednesday, December 5, 2007 after a battle with lung cancer and heart failure. He had resided in Athens for the past seven years.

Mr. Crain was a veteran, having served in the US. Army during World War II. He was coowner of the C&K Radiator Shop in Lufkin for 40 years. Mr. Crain was a member of the First Baptist Church in Athens and a member of the Masonic Lodge, having recently received his 50 year certificate and pin.

Survivors include his wife, Joye (Cleveland) Crain of Athens; daughter and son-inlaw, Diane and Norman Simmons of Henderson; daughter, Donna Purvis of Nacogdoches; grandsons, Curt Simmons and wife Dawn of Saint Jo, Major Justin Hill and wife Jennifer of Blacksburg, Virginia and J.C Purvis of Lufkin; 2 granddaughters, 6 great-grandchildren and twin great-grandsons to be born in February; sisters and brothers in-law, Wynona and I.R. Perry of Bossier City, Louisiana and Linda and Charles Durham of Lufkin; sister, Levetta Gupton of Springfield, Tennessee; and a number of nieces, nephews, step-children, stepgrandchildren and step-greatgrandchildren.

Mr. Crain was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Lucille (Parrish) Crain; his parents; and sisters, Nelda (Crain) Bates and Geneva (Crain) Smith. Pallbearers will be I.R. Perry, J.C. Purvis, Bryce Burns, James Parrish, Charles Durham and Wayne Gillstrap. Honorary pallbearers will be Odis Kendrick, Charles Forrest and Thomas "Bo" Freeman.