Reid Craft

Reid is survived by his daughter Janice Craft, stepdaughters, Marjorie Solley, Barbara Simmons, and Jean Rayhill, sons Stanley Craft and Stephen Craft, stepson George Bordovsky, sister Bess Risner, brother Elmer Craft and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and extended family.

He was predeceased by his wife Marjorie (mother of Janice, Stanley, and Stephen) who passed away in 198¬7. Reid then married Margaret Bordovsky (mother of George, Michael, Marjorie, Barbara, Jean) who passed away in 2005. He is also predeceased by his stepson Michael, sisters Eunice Spencer, Bertie Sain, and brother Orville Craft.

Born in the fall of 1921 in Breathitt County, Kentucky, Reid was the first child of Kelly and Dora Craft. Being a son and an older brother were his first jobs and he excelled at them. He accumulated many other titles over the years, some short-term and some long: farm boy, soldier, college student, father, engineer, farmer, teacher, writer, and numerous corporate roles.

Reid served in the U.S. Army from August 1942 until December 1945. His training took him to Texas, Arizona, California, and Oregon. He then deployed to England and into France shortly after D-Day. He was with the 15th Cavalry in the fighting through Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland and Central Europe under General Patton. He was also involved with clandestine OSS training operations in England.

After the war, he married his high school sweetheart Marjorie, and resumed his studies at the University of Kentucky. Two sons came along in the next 3 years along with a job at the US Army Signal Corp in Cold Springs, KY. Next came a move to eastern Connecticut where he worked on the development of the first commercially successful jet engine, the Pratt & Whitney JT8D. While proud of the fact that the JT8D is still in service today, Reid was always far prouder of his daughter Janice who was born while the family was in Connecticut.

Missing their extended families in the mid-West, Reid and Marjorie bought a small farm in southern Indiana and Reid began teaching 7th grade at the Johnson Township school. A few years of that, and the family was off to Pasadena, Texas where Reid took a job with Brown & Root Marine Operators. His years there had him working onboard construction barges in the Gulf of Mexico that built offshore oil rigs and then later progressing through the ranks of management in “the Yard” at Green’s Bayou. After 20+ years, Reid retired. Unfortunately, Marjorie became ill and passed away shortly afterwards.

Time passed and Reid grew close to a long-time family friend, Margaret Bordovsky. They married in May 1989 and made their home in Livingston, Texas. They spent many years traveling around America sight-seeing and visiting family across the country.

The family would like to thank the staff of The Waterford at Baytown for their excellent care and many instances of going above and beyond in the years Reid lived there. He thoroughly enjoyed his time there and considered it home for many years.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in his name to worthy veteran assistance organizations.