Home > United States of America > Kansas > Lyon County > Emporia > Maplewood Memorial Lawn Cemetery > Laverne S. “Shag” Crayk

Laverne S. “Shag” Crayk

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Birth	:	4 Jan 1911 Hope, Dickinson County, Kansas, USA
Death	:	23 Jun 1951 Reading, Lyon County, Kansas, USA
Burial	:	Maplewood Memorial Lawn Cemetery, Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate	:	38.4202995, -96.2055969
Plot	:	Section B - Lot 28 E 1/2 - Space 5
Description	:	The Emporia Gazette, 25 Jun 1951, Monday EMPORIAN DROWNS IN STATE LAKE Lavern Crayk Dies in Boating Accident Saturday Morning The fourth drowning in 14 years in the Lyon County State lake west of Reading Saturday took the life of Laverne Crayk, 40, who lived at 418 West. Mr. Crayk, a carpenter and contractor, died while attempting to swim ashore after his outboard motorboat sank under the rough water of the lake. No funeral arrangements for Mr. Crayk had been announced this morning. Charles Galvin, 47, of 1005 East Sixth, who accompanied Mr. Crayk on a fishing trip to the State lake northeast of Emporia,... Read More	The Emporia Gazette, 25 Jun 1951, Monday EMPORIAN DROWNS IN STATE LAKE Lavern Crayk Dies in Boating Accident Saturday Morning The fourth drowning in 14 years in the Lyon County State lake west of Reading Saturday took the life of Laverne Crayk, 40, who lived at 418 West. Mr. Crayk, a carpenter and contractor, died while attempting to swim ashore after his outboard motorboat sank under the rough water of the lake. No funeral arrangements for Mr. Crayk had been announced this morning. Charles Galvin, 47, of 1005 East Sixth, who accompanied Mr. Crayk on a fishing trip to the State lake northeast of Emporia, was rescued by John and Calvin Langley, who live about two blocks away from the point where the boat went down. An alarm for assistance was dispatched from the Langley home after the Langleys heard Galvin's yell for help, and Emporia firemen and police responded on notices from the police radio. Mr. Galvin told a Gazette reporter that he met Mr. Crayk for this first time Saturday morning at Bill's place, 28 South Commercial, between 5 and 6 o'clock. Both had gone there to buy minnows. They discussed fishing and Galvin said Crayk invited him to go along to the State lake and use Crayk's boat. The men made the trip in separate cars, stopping enroute to seine for more minnows. At the lake, Galvin said, they fished without luck from the bank, then decided to use the boat. The men fished over various areas of the lake, catching 16 crappie and a catfish. Gusts of wind, Calvin said, at times gave some trouble, and the outboard motor stalled several times when moss clogged the propeller. Galvin said they were headed back toward the dam when the accident occurred about a hundred yards off shore. Waves splashed into the boat, and efforts were made to bail out water with minnow buckets. The motor stalled again, according to Galvin, and that end of the boat started sinking. Galvin had shed shoes and jacket. As the boat went under, Galvin said Mr. Crayk started swimming toward the shore and apparently was doing well. Galvin asserted he was sure he could not make the shore himself so, as the end of the boat came up, he turned back and clung to it. He said he saw nothing more of his fishing companion and in a few minutes started yelling, and that men from a nearby home came and rescued him. Mr. Galvin discussed that Crayk had discussed previous drownings in the lake before the accident. Sunday, Galvin was hoarse from shouting and exposure. Mrs. Galvin told a reporter that about 11 o'clock Saturday morning she had a peculiar feeling that something was wrong with her husband, that she had a crying spell, and called police to see if there had been any report of a car accident. When Galvin was identified at the police station, he was informed by Al Bates, chief of police, that his wife had been inquiring about him. Mr. and Mrs. Galvin, parents of a 5-months-old daughter, have lived in Emporia about two months. He is working on the freight car painting installation at the Santa Fe roundhouse. The Galvins plan to return to Albuquerque, N.M., next Friday. The State lake accident occurred about 11:30 o'clock Saturday morning and Crayk's body was recovered about 2:15 by Calvin Langley and a neighbor, Marvin Schlesener, who occupied a boat. Two boats also were dispatched by the fire department. Firemen who engaged in the body recovery work were Chief C. C. Johnson, Captain Frank Ragsdale, and James Landrith, David Baker, Jack Crimble, Frank Bailey and Ronnie Vahsholtz. Many radioed communications concerning the rescue work were handled by Police Matron Ruth Firth. Undersheriff Click Carle and O. D Harris also were at the lake. Mr. Crayk was the fourth person to drown in the Lyon County State lake since 1937, according to the Gazette's record of accidental fatalities. The lake was developed under a CCC construction project in the middle 1930's and there is no regulation or supervision of boat usage there. Two Emporia youths lost their lives in the lake August 5, 1931. An Emporia State college student drowned in the lake last November 13 in a boat accident in circumstances similar to those which took the life of Mr. Crayk. Laverne "Shag" Crayk was born January 4, 1911, in Hope, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Crayk. He and Patricia Keller were married in Emporia, May 12, 1935. Survivors are his wife and two daughters, Shirley and Elizabeth Ann, of the home; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Crayk, Los Angeles, Calif.; three brothers, Pete Crayk, Edward Crayk and Glenn Crayk, of Los Angeles; two sisters, Mrs. Earl Perkins, of Los Angeles, and Mrs. C. C. Lee, 407 West. He was a member of the Emporia Masonic lodge and Knights Templar. He recently was elected president of the Emporia carpenter's union and was to have taken office in July. ******************************************** The Emporia Gazette, 26 Jun 1951, Tuesday CRAYK FUNERAL THURSDAY Funeral services for Laverne "Shag" Crayk, who drowned in the Reading State lake Saturday morning, will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Roberts-Blue chapel. The Rev. Paul Carpenter, pastor of the Second Presbyterian church, will conduct the services. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn cemetery. ********************************************* The Emporia Gazette, 29 Jun 1951, Friday RITES FOR MR. CRAYK Funeral services for Laverne "Shag" Crayk, who was drowned Saturday in Reading State lake, were held Thursday afternoon at the Roberts-Blue chapel. The Rev. Paul Carpenter, pastor of the Second Presbyterian church, conducted the services. Mr. and Mrs. Trevor Lewis sang, accompanied by Mrs. Glenn A. Blue. Pallbearers were Henry Russell, W. L. Hurst, Wayne Bollinger, Brodie Jones, Alfred Green and C. D. Freeman. Burial was in Memorial Lawn cemetery. Out-of-town relatives who attended the services were Peter S. Crayk, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Perkins, Mrs. Peter Crayk, Sr., and Edward Crayk, Los Angeles, Calif.; C. W. Singleton, Ed D. Singleton, and A. A. Singleton, Herington; Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Harrison and Mrs. Lester C. Dittemore, Topeka; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Zumbrum, Americus; Mr. and Mrs. L. L. Bradfield and Mrs. Betty Allen, Bucklin. The Emor

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Laverne S. “Shag” Crayk's memorial?
Laverne S. “Shag” Crayk's memorial is located at: Maplewood Memorial Lawn Cemetery, Emporia, Lyon County, USA.
When did Laverne S. “Shag” Crayk death?
Laverne S. “Shag” Crayk death on 23 Jun 1951 in Reading, Lyon County, Kansas, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Laverne S. “Shag” Crayk's memorial?
Latitude: 38.4202995
Longitude: -96.2055969

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Patricia Ann Keller Crayk

(1915 - 1999)

Siblings

Saylor Harvey Crayk

(1913 - 1930)

Children

Shirley J. Crayk Johnson

(1936 - unknow)

Elizabeth A. “Beth” Crayk Fast

(1946 - 2003)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Saint Andrews Episcopal Church Columbarium
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4084053, -96.1796799

2. Soden Family Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3872190, -96.1813510

3. Cottonwood Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4130096, -96.2725525

4. Sacred Heart Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3932991, -96.1418991

5. Greenwood Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3546982, -96.2082977

6. Evergreen Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3572006, -96.1791992

7. Wilhite Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3830500, -96.1240900

8. Camp Alexander Grounds
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4177210, -96.1072080

9. Fowler Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3897018, -96.1091995

10. Gunkel Burial Ground
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3646600, -96.1138300

11. Haworth Cemetery
Plymouth, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3804207, -96.3178024

12. Americus Cemetery
Americus, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5154686, -96.2420425

13. Forest Hill Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4124000, -96.0604900

14. Badger Creek Cemetery
Neosho Rapids, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4049988, -96.0582962

15. Grandview Cemetery
Plymouth, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3838997, -96.3542023

16. Rosean Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5344009, -96.1464005

17. Old Quaker Cemetery
Toledo, Chase County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4208100, -96.3693200

18. Union Cemetery
Emporia, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4375000, -96.0425034

19. Fruitland Cemetery
Americus, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5078011, -96.3308029

20. Hillside Cemetery
Toledo, Chase County, USA
Coordinate: 38.4305992, -96.3741989

21. Chicago Mound Cemetery
Neosho Rapids, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.3478012, -96.0610962

22. Frost Cemetery
Americus, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.5573900, -96.2022300

23. Stark Cemetery
Olpe, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2789600, -96.2446300

24. Saint Joseph Cemetery
Olpe, Lyon County, USA
Coordinate: 38.2667007, -96.1628036