Neal Parker Cramer, Sr. was born 22 July 1926 to Glen Cramer and Elta Parker in Sabetha, Kansas. He departed this world on 12 January 2019 at the ripe age of 92. He left Kansas to join the Navy V-12 Program and was commissioned as an Ensign and served from 1944-1946. His service allowed him to attend the University of Kansas in 1946. He joined Beta Theta Pi Fraternity and graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1948 with Bachelor’s Degrees in Geology, Philosophy and English. He continued to endow both his alma mater and fraternity throughout his life. On 26 September 1949, he began working for Western Geophysical. He met and married his loving wife Florence Russell in McComb, Mississippi, on 26 November 1950.
Together, they lived in Mississippi, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Colorado, and Wyoming before finally settling in Texas. Neal worked tirelessly at Western travelling everywhere under the sun. He lost his beloved Florence in June of 1982. The conclusion of his daily relationship with Western occurred on 31 December 1991, after reaching his goal of retiring as the company’s President. He spent 42 years working at Western but made friendships that lasted throughout his life.
He was lucky enough to marry Sharon Watts in October of 1989. They spent 28 years together and his family expanded to include Sharon’s three children. Sharon passed away in September 2017 shortly after losing their home to Hurricane Harvey. Neal spent the remainder of his life at Eagle’s Trace, where he lived happily and comfortably in a home constantly filled with loved ones and the occasional pet.
Neal is survived by his three children, Neal Cramer Jr. and wife Kelly of Houston, Nancy Carol Cramer of Houston, and Elizabeth Cottongame and husband Brice of Ft. Worth; as well as his grandchildren, Parker Cramer of New York City, Kathleen Cottongame of Ft. Worth, Abby Trigg and husband Michael of Houston, William Cottongame of Ft. Worth, Carly Cramer of Houston, Bryan Watts of Dallas, Chat Chankhan and wife Kame of Houston, Victoria Watts of Philadelphia, Cassandra McDermott and husband Matthew of Phoenix, AZ, Jennifer Potts-Hillman and husband Marcus of San Diego.
A visitation for Neal will be held Friday, January 18, 2019 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, 13001 Katy Fwy, Houston, TX 77079. A funeral service will occur Saturday, January 19, 2019 at 1:00 PM at Grace Presbyterian, 10221 Ella Lee Lane, Houston, TX 77042. A committal service will occur Saturday, January 19, 2019 at 2:15 PM at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home Cemetery.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.memorialoaksfunerals.com for the Cramer family.
