Donald "Neil" Crader

Donald Neil Crader, age 84, of Collierville, formerly of Germantown, passed away on May 18, 2012 from complications of ALS. Neil Crader was born in Oran, Missouri in 1927 to parents Luda Dillingham Crader and Doctor Earl Crader. He lived most of his childhood in Diehlstadt, Missouri and graduated from Diehlstadt High School. He volunteered to join the army in June 1945 and served through 1947 in the occupation of Korea with the rank of PFC, Headquarters XXIV Corp. He attended the University of Wyoming and Southeast Missouri State College to earn his bachelors degree in Science of Education. He attended Memphis State College to earns his Masters Degree in Education. Neil was an educator at Sherwood High School for thirty years. He was past President of the Memphis Education Association from 1968-1969. He was also an original Charter Member of the Memphis Area Teachers Credit Union. Neil was an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball, Memphis State Tiger Basketball and had a passion for American and world history. Neil Crader is proceeded in death by his parents, and his son, Phillip Niles Crader. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Dorothy Crader, son Don Crader and his wife Marsha Crader and their two children and four great grandchildren, and brother Dwight Crader of Sikeston, MO.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, May 20 from 3-6 and funeral services will be at 10 am on Monday, May 21 all at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens on Germantown Road.