News-Gazette, The (Champaign-Urbana, IL)
June 13, 2005
Edition: 1 star
Page: A-4
 
CHARLESTON - Merlene Barger Crail, 84, of Charleston died Saturday (June 11, 2005) at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, Coles County.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Adams Funeral Chapel, 2330 Shawnee Drive, Charleston. Mike Southards and Mike Stallons will officiate. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery, Charleston.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Mrs. Crail was born May 8, 1921, in Cumberland County, a daughter of Jacob L. and Almyra B. Richardson Barger. She married J.P. Crail on Aug. 14, 1940, in Charleston. He survives.

Survivors also include two sons, William L. Crail of Onalaska, Wis., and James P. Crail of Greenville, Wis.; two daughters, Sabina McNutt of Charleston and Tamara Crail-Walters of Lufkin, Texas; 10 grandchildren; 11 stepgrandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and a sister, Twila Corn of Charleston.

She was preceded in death by a son.

Mrs. Crail was a 1937 graduate of Toledo High School, and she received her teacher's certificate from Eastern Illinois State Teacher's College. She taught for several years at the Webster School in Cumberland County before becoming a homemaker. In 1970, she began working with Anderson Realty in Ashmore, and later joined Leland Hall Real Estate in Charleston.

Mrs. Crail was a longtime member of the First Christian Church in Charleston. She also was a member of Epsilon Sigma Alpha sorority, the former Sopha C. Chapter Order of Eastern Star, American Field Service, and the Women's Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Paul McVey Post 1592 of Charleston. She was a charter member of Women of the Moose, Charleston Chapter 1175.

Mrs. Crail was active in the PTA and booster clubs associated with the Charleston school system when her children were in school. She enjoyed playing cards and going to rummage sales and auctions.

Memorials may be made to the AIDS Research Institute or the American Cancer Society.

 

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Herald & Review (Decatur, IL)
June 14, 2005
Page: D2
 
CHARLESTON — Merlene Barger Crail, 84, Charleston, died Saturday (June 11, 2005).

Services: 11 a.m. Wednesday, Adams Funeral Chapel, Charleston. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Burial: Roselawn Cemetery, Charleston. Memorials: AIDS Research Institute or American Cancer Society.