J.B. Craft passed from this world Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, in Florence, Ariz. He was 90 years old.
He was born Jan. 19, 1929, in Raleigh, Miss., to Bayard and Lilla (Martin) Craft of Magee, Miss.
In 1948, he married Louise Warren Craft.
J.B. and Louise moved to Artesia in 1952. He retired from the City of Artesia in 1995.
He was a pastor at Victory Baptist Church in Artesia for 36 years until he was called to Pinon Baptist Church, where he preached for 20 years. Upon his retirement, he moved to Florence, where he resided until his death.
J.B. loved to fish, camp, sing, and play his guitar.
Survivors include son John T. Craft and wife Deborah of Artesia; daughter Janet Silvia and husband Mike of Odessa, Texas; grandchildren Johnny Craft, Lanci Arp, Robin Ward and Brandy Salcido; 12 greatgrandchildren; and numerous nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Louise Craft, in 2004; and his parents, brothers Sammie and Martin Craft, and sisters Grace Jackson and Eva Johnson, all of Mississippi.
He was deeply loved and will be missed.
