OBITUARY

BERTHA (BAKER) CRAIG
Mrs. Bertha (Baker) Craig, daughter of David H. and Alice Ann Booth, was born January 24, 1884, on a farm north of Cainsville, and departed this life at Crestview Rest Home in Bethany, Mo., on June 30, 1970, at the age of 86 years, 5 months, and 6 days. Her illness required constant care and she entered Crestview in the fall of 1964 where she has been well cared for.
In September 1900, Bertha was married to George Baker, a highly respected young man and in the spring of 1901, they moved to Cainsville where they took over the management of the Grandriver Telephone Co., for Cainsville and surrounding territory. George managed the lines and company affairs, and Bertha supervised the office, and both did an excellent job. During the serous flu epidemic of 1918, George was stricken and died of the ravaging disease. This was a very heavy loss for Bertha to bear as she and George were a very devoted couple. The one great help was that she had in her home a son, George Jr., age 3 ½ years, on whom to center her affections. Bertha then took over the management and carried on. For 50 years she rendered excellent service to the community doing an outstanding job in emergencies, going out of her way to accommodate the public.
In the summer of 1929, the community was shocked when the news came that the son, George Jr., was drowned while swimming in the river nearby with some of his companions. This was a great sorrow to Bertha, almost more than she could bear, but she kept right on serving the public.
After having lived single for 23 years, Bertha married a highly respected farmer, Judd Craig, in December 1937. Judd passed away after a lingering illness in November 1950 and another sorrow came into her life. Sorrows tender our hearts and broaden our sympathies toward others, and this was true with Bertha.
Bertha was possessed with a beautiful alto voice which was heard regularly in the Christian Church until illness prevented her attending. She has been greatly missed in the church, the influence of which was a part of her everyday living.
On July 9, 1951, at the close of Berth's 50 years of service with the telephone company, the company officials with their wives and employees, 80 in all, with many Cainsville residents, arrived at the Christian Church cottage to pay their respects and this was a memorable occasion. Bertha was the recipient of some very nice gifts from the company, the citizens of Cainsville, and from relatives.
Bertha leaves to mourn her passing two sister, Mrs. Robert Reeves of Cainsville and Mrs. Lydia Smith of Albany, several nieces and nephews and other relatives and many friends. The two sisters, Roberta and Lydia, have been very attentive to Bertha during her long illness. A good citizen, a devoted wife and mother has passed on to her Heavenly Home.

Card of Thanks
The family of Berth Craig extends sincere thanks for the many expressions of sympathy and acts of kindness during our recent bereavement— Roberta Reeves and Lydia Smith.

Bethany Republican-Clipper
Bethany, Missouri, US
05 Aug 1970, Wed – Page 7