Final Salute

Frankie Cripps Obituary

Frankie Cripps, 73, of Grand Tower, went to be with the two loves of his life, his Lord and Savior and his wife Sandy on Monday, May 18, 2020 at his home.

Frankie was born on November 11, 1946 to Frank and Mary Lee Etta (Wright) Cripps in Grand Tower. Frankie married Mary Sandra McClure on October 3, 1970 in Grand Tower.

Mary preceded Frankie in death on April 30, 2015.

Frankie is survived by his son, Shannon (Lisa) Cripps of Savanah, Georgia; daughter Jill (Michael) Crane of Grand Tower; six grandchildren, Aaron Lobato, Mathew (Sarah) Cripps, Lindsay (Quentin) Crane-Goode, Michael (Abbey) Crane, Nicholas Crane, and Shannon Crane, and great-granddaughter Grace Elaine Cripps. Brothers John (Murk), Jim (Rose), Francis, and sisters Colleen Baltzell, Bernadine (Vernon) Thompson, and Ellen Robertson, several nieces and nephews, and his fur babies Buddy and Tinkerbell.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, infant grandson Nathan Crane, brothers David and Mark, and sister Rosemary.

Frankie served his country in active duty with U.S. Navy from 1965 – 1969 and then as a SeaBee Reservist until 1992.

He retired in August 2000 from the Union Pacific Railroad after working 29 years and 9 months.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and just being in the outdoors. He especially loved spending time with his grandchildren, they were his pride and joy and he, their beloved “G-pal”. After Frankie and Sandy retired, they spent their winters in Wiggins, Mississippi and traveled throughout the Gulf Coast. During their travels they made many friends in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Frankie was a kind and gentle soul who never met a stranger and was never at a loss for words. He was an ordained Deacon, serving his Lord at the First Baptist Church in Grand Tower for many years. His last words were, “I gotta get up and walk” and walk he did right thru the gates of Heaven.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date.

Memorials in Frankie’s name may be made to the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease Foundation or the Leukemia Foundation.

Meredith Funeral Home in Carbondale assisted the family with arrangements. To leave a story or memory of Frankie visit www.meredithfh.com