James "Sandy" Craft

James "Sandy" Davis Craft, 77, of Oak Hill, WV died on Monday, April 18, 2005 at Plateau Medical Center in Oak Hill, WV following a short illness. Born March 2, 1928 at Mount Hope, WV he was the son of the late Gordon Franklin and Ethel Rebecca McCoy Craft. Sandy was a loving husband and NASCAR fan. He was known for his gracious generosity and will be missed by his family and dear close friends. He was a graduate of Montgomery High School and attended West Virginia Tech. Mr. Craft was a retired coal miner with 37 years service and a member of the UMWA Local 9619. As a local business man, he was the owner of Oak Hill Welding, Plateau Mine Service, Industrial Mine Supply and former owner of the Fiesta Club. He served in the US Army during the Korean Conflict having attained the rank of Sgt 1st class. He was preceded in death by his two sisters, Julia Isabelle Benge and Charlotte Joan Martin. Survivors include his loving wife, Myra L. Craft, two stepsons, Bob Lane and wife, Wendy, of Kitty Hawk, NC and Shawn Wheeler of Jacksonville, FL; two grandsons, Kristopher and Joshua Lane both of Kitty Hawk; nephew, Chris Vandyke and wife, Lisa, of Oak Hill; a niece, Deidi Ashman and husband, Derek serving with the US Army in Germany; two great nieces, Jessica Vandyke and Alexis Ashman and two great nephews, Colton Vandyke and Kolbie Ashman. Also surviving is a dear close friend, Ralph Young of Oak Hill who was like a son to Sandy. Visitation will be held at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill on Thursday, April 21, 2005, from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Services will be on Friday, April 22, 2005, at 11:00 A.M. at Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill with Rev. L.C. "Bill" Calhoun officiating. Entombment will be at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, Prosperity WV with military graveside rites conducted by VFW Post #3110, Oak Hill. Pallbearers will be Jim Vandyke, Chris Vandyke, Ralph Young, Jeff Stanley, Harold Lilly and Keith Feazell.