James "Jim" Chester Crabtree, Jr.

James "Jim" Chester Crabtree, Jr., 98, of Springdale, Ark., formerly of Neosho, Mo., passed away Wednesday, June 12, 2019, at the Arkansas State Veterans Home in Fayetteville. Jim was born on April 29, 1921, in Neosho, Mo., a son of James Chester Crabtree, Sr. and Emma Testerman Crabtree. He was the widower of the late Bernice Sherer Crabtree, who preceded him in death in 2012, they were married 70 years. Jim worked as an engineer for the Rocketdyne Co in Neosho and the Sperry Vickers Co in Joplin. He served in the Army Signal Corps during World War II in the South Pacific. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing golf and had lived on Grand Lake for several years. He was a member of the Unionville Masonic Lodge #33 in Unionville, Mo., and a member of the York Rite Masonic bodies. He was also preceded in death by two brothers and one sister. He is survived by three sons: James C. Crabtree III and wife Martha of Cold Springs, Texas, Fred N. Crabtree and wife Kathi of Fayetteville, Ark., and Max D. Crabtree of Springdale; one daughter, Holly Stubbs and husband Roger of Broken Arrow, Okla.; 10 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held at the Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Chapel on Saturday, July 6, 2019, at 3 p.m. Arrangements are under the direction of the Backstrom-Pyeatte Funeral Home of Springdale. To sign the online guest book please visit www.backstrom-pyeatte.com.