Robert E. Crain Jr.

Robert E. Crain Jr., 86, of Hamburg, formerly of Crossett and Lake Village, died on Sept. 26, 2018, at the Baptist Health Medical Center in Little Rock. He was born on Oct. 12, 1931, in Tillar, Ark., to his parents, Robert E. Crain, Sr. and Katie Harper Crain. In 1949, he graduated from Lake Village High School, followed by three years at Arkansas A & M College where he also played football. He then joined the U.S. Army, attended Officer Candidate School, and eventually retired as a Captain. Following his military career, he finished up his last year of school at A & M and began teaching. Later, he completed his master's degree in School Administration from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and served as Principal at Price Elementary School and later as Superintendent of the Crossett Public School System from 1980-1984. Service to others held much significance in Bob's life, in his military and teaching careers, and even the civic clubs of which he was a member. He was a Freemason, a Shriner, and not only a Rotarian, but achieved the recognition as a "Paul Harris Fellow". He enjoyed working in his shop building duck boxes, hunting, fishing, playing golf, and growing vegetables in his garden. His personality was "larger than life" and people were drawn to him, including the staff at the Grand Manor and Drew Memorial Hospital to whom he gave nicknames and thoroughly enjoyed. He is preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Betty Jane Hogue Crain; one brother, Gene Crain; two sisters, Evelyn Underwood and Marnette Bennett; and two great-grandchildren, Audrey and Ethan Mattson. He is survived by; one son, James R. (Bonnie) Crain; and one daughter, Beverly Smith both of Hamburg; six grandchildren, Derrick (Laci) Lyons, Chris (Erin) Lyons, Colt (Hollie) Smith, Drew Smith, Kara Jenkins, and Melody (Greg) Mattson; 13 great-grandchildren, Claire, Micah, Natalie, Simeon, Allie, Gene, Gabriel, Bella, Addy, Golden, Gage, Kory, and Sedgwick; one brother-in-law, Farris (Rosie) Hogue of Benton; two sisters-in-law, Yvonne Hodnett of Rogers, and Dorothy Hogue of Lonoke; and a daughter adopted out of love, Lisa (Larry) Vaughn of Monticello. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2 p.m., Sept. 30th at Medders Funeral Home Chapel, 1564 Hwy 52 W, in Crossett, with Pastor Tim Chennault officiating, followed by an interment with military honors at Pinewood Memorial Park under the direction of Medders Funeral Home. Pallbearers are Derrick Lyons, Chris Lyons, Colt Smith, Drew Smith, Greg Mattson, and Larry Vaughn. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 29th at Medders Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Arkansas Children's Hospital, St. Jude's Hospital, or the Ronald McDonald House.