Mike Crain

Ozark lost a champion on February 4 when Mike Crain lost his battle with cancer. He was born March 5, 1934 in Springfield. Mike and his wife, Bonnie Winn Crain, would have celebrated 60 years of marriage later this year. He and his late brother, Frank G. (Bert) Crain, owned and operated Native Wood Products in Ozark for many years. The manufacturing company was founded by their father Frank W. Crain in 1950 and at times employed more than 50 craftsmen and women. Mike and Bonnie's children are Doug Crain and wife Jane, of Tulsa, and Michelle Crain of Ozark. Grandchildren are Adam Crain, Tulsa; Libby Haines and husband Ryan, Roanoke, Texas; Riley and Emma Satterfield, Ozark; and great-granddaughter Trinity Crain, Tulsa. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Barbara Crain, Springfield, along with nieces and nephews. His sister was the late Judith Crain Henderson, Springfield. Mike was an avid supporter of the city of Ozark for more than 50 years. He was very involved in everything that had to do with its growth and quality of life. He was actively engaged in many organizations: volunteer fire department, city council alderman, Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader, Chamber of Commerce president, Booster Club president, and last but not least, an enthusiastic cheerleader of Ozark High School football at both home and away games. He was very satisfied with the way his adopted hometown has blossomed from a single blinking stoplight into a vibrant community. Mike was born and grew up in Springfield as the third child of Frank W. and Barbara H. Crain. He was a proud Eagle Scout, a 1952 graduate of Greenwood Laboratory School and following service in the army graduated from Southwest Missouri State in 1958 where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Even though he was very active, fishing on the James or Finley rivers was always just around the corner. He was part of a group that floated the Buffalo in Arkansas for more than 40 years. Mike handled his four-year cancer journey with his customary wit and grace. He certainly wasn't happy about it, but most of the time you wouldn't know it. Whether he was wearing his leprechaun hat around the hospital on two consecutive St. Patrick's Days or teasing his nurses, he always brought joy to those around him. Each new cancer specialist or surgeon would look over his chart and tell him how much better he looked in person than on paper. Bonnie and the family wish to thank all of the Cox South and Hospice Compassus teams who took such great care of him. A celebration of life will be held on Monday, February 8, at 11 am at Adams Funeral Home in Ozark. Burial will follow at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery at 1:00 pm. A visitation will be held at the funeral home on Sunday from 1-3 pm. Memorial gifts in honor of Mike can be made to the Finley River Community Foundation or Cassidy United Methodist Building Fund.