Verla Eudora “Sunny” Ray Crane

Verla Eudora “Sunny” Ray Crane, 96, of Blytheville passed from this life on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019, at the NEA Baptist Hospital in Jonesboro. Born to Guy H. and Amy Vivian Crouch Ray in Sullivan, Ill., on Feb. 1, 1923, she was owner of Crane Farms, located in Central Illinois and a member of the First Christian Church in Blytheville. Sunny was a resident of Blytheville for the past 58 years. She grew up in Shelbyville, Ill., and married her husband, Jean MacRae Crane, on March 11, 1945.

Sunny served her country faithfully in the role of an officer’s wife and wife of a Strategic Air Command Pilot and Base Commander in the USAF. Throughout their Air Force career, the Cranes lived in numerous states as well as Europe. She was an active participant in Officer Wives Club activities throughout their time in the Air Force. Following retirement, she volunteered with the Red Cross for more than 20 years and was an active member of the Blytheville AFB Community Council. Sunny was an accomplished seamstress, bridge player and was very active in the First Christian Church. She was owner of Crane Farms in Central Illinois for more than 25 years. A devoted mother, she was very proud of her two daughters and loved spending time with her five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Sunny was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Retired Colonel Jean MacRae Crane; father, Guy H. Ray; mother, Amy Vivian Crouch Biedert; and stepfather, Henry M. Biedert.

Sunny is survived by her children, Deitra “DeeDee” Blackwell (Vance) of Little Rock, Cindy Chabolla (Steven) of Round Hill, Vir.; grandchildren, Amy Blackwell Bennett (Trevor), Andrew Blackwell (Meagan), Erin Chabolla Nelson (Jacob), Mary Chabolla (Alfredo Ali-Mariana), Caroline Chabolla; great- grandchildren, Charlotte Bennett, Ava Nelson, Sofia Nelson, Luciana Nelson, and Juliana Ali-Mariana.

The family extends their love and undying gratitude to her special caregivers, Juanita Jones, Doris Jackson, Curly Cotton, Cynthia Whitehorn, Sandra Spencer and Nadia Wells.

Graveside services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, in the Glenwood Cemetery in Shelbyville, Ill., with Rev. Kevin Ray officiating and a private viewing by family and farmers prior to the service. Services in Illinois will be under the direction of Lockart Green Funeral Home, 302 West Main Street, Shelbyville, IL.

A memorial service to honor Sunny’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 2, in the First Christian Church in Blytheville with Reverands Holly Jo Engle and Keith Hearnsberger officiating. Cobb Funeral Home of Blytheville is in charge of local arrangements.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to the Col. J.M. Crane Memorial Scholarship at Arkansas Northeastern College, Attn: Rachel Gifford, Executive Director, ANC Foundation, 2501 S. Division Street, Blytheville, AR 72315; rgifford@smail.anc.edu; 870-838-2902.

Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.cobbfuneralhome.com or www.lockartgreenfuneralhome.com.