Elaine Clare Craven

Elaine Clare Reilly Craven, 91, of Memphis, passed peacefully away on July 20, 2026. Laney, as she was affectionately known, will be remembered as a devoted wife and mother, a caring aunt and cousin, and a loyal friend. She had a strong faith, an iron will and a tenacious spirit, and she showed her love for others in countless ways. A true “people” person, she made friends wherever she went. Having suffered tragedy in her own life, she had a special compassion for others who experienced the unexpected loss of loved ones.

Elaine was married for 42 years to William Joseph Craven Jr. who preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by son William Joseph Craven III and daughter Maureen Elizabeth Craven. She is survived by two children and their spouses, Tricia Craven Williams and husband Greg of Enumclaw, WA, and Dennis Craven and wife Hope of North Palm Beach, FL. She also leaves four grandchildren, Reilly Williams McGuinn (Brendan), Jay Williams (Ashley), William Craven, and Lucas Craven, as well as two great grandchildren, Rowan and Griffin McGuinn.

Laney loved her family “more than life itself”. She was preceded in death by her parents Francis and Helen and by her five beloved older siblings: Rosemary, Bobby, Jack, Patty, and her twin Edward (Bubba). She was also preceded in death by three sister-in-laws, Colleen, Dottie, and Kappy, and she is survived by one brother-in-law, Tim, and two sisters-in-law, Jane and Margie. She leaves 28 nieces and nephews scattered from coast to coast; she loved visiting them in her travels and graciously entertained them when they travelled to Memphis. She is also survived by the five children of her dear cousin Catherine Flynn Wallace: Rob (Teresa), Flynn (Roz), Pat, John, and Jean (Billy). Their devotion to Laney in her last years is truly and deeply appreciated.

A lifelong Memphian from birth to death, Laney never lived anywhere else. She attended Sacred Heart School for 12 years and graduated with a group of women who remained friends for life. They supported each other through years of raising their families, and in later years they camped, travelled and socialized together playing bunco, bridge, mahjongg, trivia, and dominos. The current iteration of this group still meets weekly on Friday for Happy Hour. Laney liked her vodka tonic icy cold and her coffee black and hot!

An active parishioner of Holy Rosary Catholic Church for over sixty-five years, Elaine attended daily mass for most of her life and was a member of the Ladies of Charity and the Altar Society. She and her husband Bill were both presented with the Rosarian award for their contributions to the parish.

Her family requests that memorials be sent to the Holy Rosary Endowment Scholarship Fund.

Visitation will be at 9:30 AM, on Monday, July 27, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 4851 Park Avenue, Memphis, TN. The funeral Mass will begin at 11:00 AM. Burial to follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

- Matthew 5:4