WICHITA, KS
Craft, Vera Florene (Carpenter), 96, joined her Heavenly family on Sunday, November 20, 2011. She was born on October 10, 1915 to L. L. "Roy" and Alice Mae (Tilsley) Carpenter in Amoret, Missouri. She attended Amoret Grade School and graduated as Valedictorian from Amoret High School. She often said that she would not take a million dollars for her childhood living in a small town. After graduation, she moved to Kansas City, Missouri and was employed in the Bank of Mail Order Division of Montgomery Ward & Co. She accepted our Lord, Jesus Christ, at the age of 10 and throughout her life worked in all areas of the Church she was attending. Vera taught Bible Study for 60 years and said her 20 years spent teaching children were her favorite years. On August 5, 1939, she married Harold Craft, who preceded her in death in 1975. They spent most of their married life living in small towns in Kansas where he was employed as a Lumber Yard manager. Vera loved music and at the age of 5 began singing solos at the Church and other events. She continued singing in Church choirs and at many funerals. She and Harold became members of the Park City Christian Church in 1963. There, in addition to singing in the choir and conducting Children's Worship, she was a Deaconess, a President of the C.W.F. and had served on the Church Board. Her hobbies included giving book reviews, writing poetry and play skits for local presentations. All of her grandchildren remember sitting on her lap listening to stories she would make up for their listening pleasure. She loved her family, being a homemaker, teaching the Bible and serving Christ whenever possible. She was also a point in the Eastern Star. Vera told her children and grand children that she might not approve some of the things they do, but she will always love them. Vera and Harold had two sons, Lawrence William "Larry" Craft of Carlisle, Pennsylvania and Harold Kent Craft of Wichita, Kansas. She and Harold enjoyed attending High School and College activities their sons were involved in. She is survived by her sons, Larry and Linda Craft, Kent and Marcia Craft and eleven grandchildren: Douglas and Joel Craft of Pittsburg, Pa, Curtis Craft of Honolulu, Hi., Michael and Stacy Craft of San Mateo, Ca., Ryan and Lynnae Craft of Wichita, Ks., Jeffery and Lisa Orris and Scott and Heather Shepard of Carlisle, Pa. Great grandchildren include: Kylie and Garrett Craft, Benjamin, Zachary and Jonathan Orris, Cassidy and William Lawrence Shepard. She was preceded in death by her husband, daughter-in-law, Joan Craft, brother Leonard Carpenter and sister Erma Oglesby. She lived a long happy life and was ready to enter into the eternal part of it. Services 9:30 am, Monday, Nov. 28, Park City Christian Church. Burial 3:30 p.m. at the Trading Post Cemetery, Pleasanton, Ks. Memorials to Kansas Christian Home, 1035 SE 3rd, Newton, Ks 67114 and Hospice Care of Kansas, 301 N. Main Ste 107, Newton, KS 67114. Baker Funeral Home, Valley Center has charge. www.bakerfhvc.com Baker Funeral Home - Valley Center