Lawrence "Chub" Cralley Jr.

Lawrence William “Chub” Cralley Jr., 95, passed away at 11:27 p.m., Monday, January 23, 2023, at Marion VA in Marion, Illinois. He was a resident of Murphysboro, Illinois.

Chub was born January 7, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri, to the late Rev. Lawrence William Cralley Sr. and Dorothy May (Howard) Cralley. He married Marjorie Elizabeth Durham of Columbus, Ohio, on Dec. 12, 1953, in Carbondale, Illinois.  

Survivors include three sons and daughters-in-law, Lex W. and Connie Cralley of Isanti, Minnesota, Scott R. and Micheal Cralley of Carbondale, and Todd M. and Jackie Cralley of Tampa, Florida.  Survivors also include brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jerry and Marion Durham of Columbus, Ohio; sister-in-law, Evelyn (Durham) Sugar of Columbus, Ohio; 13 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded by his wife, Marjorie; son, Jeff D. Cralley; and sisters, Elizabeth Ann (Cralley) McCormick, Agnes Ruth (Cralley) Hitchens, and Martha May (Cralley) Kirkland.

Chub was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Carbondale.

He was previously owner of Cralley’s Nursery & Landscape Construction on Giant City Road in Carbondale. He had also worked as a District Landscape Architect for the Illinois DOT in Carbondale and was a graduate of the University of Illinois. 

He honorably served in the Navy during World War II and the Army during the Korean Conflict.

Chub was an avid gardener, enjoyed fishing and was a founding lifelong member of the Little Egypt Barbershop Chorus in Carbondale and Touch of Old Barbershop Quartet.  He was a member of the VFW in Murphysboro.

Services will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 4, 2023, at Riggin-Pillatsch & Burke Funeral Home in Carterville, with the Rev. Alan Rhein officiating. Burial with military rites will follow at Oakland Cemetery in Carbondale. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, February 3, 2023, and from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., Saturday.  

Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Carbondale Memorial Fund.

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