Francis Marion "Roller" Craine

Dateline – Laurens, SC

Francis Marion “Roller” Craine, age 89 of 204 Oakwood Dr., passed away Sunday, December 20, 2015 at the NHC of Greenville, SC. He was the husband of the late Edith Curry Craine.
He was born in Simpsonville, SC, and was the son of the late Rev. Ray Craine and Nell Hinton Craine.
Mr. Craine was a resident of the Watts Mill Community before entering the United States Army. During World War II he served in 30th Infantry Division and was a Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient.
Returning home after the war he worked in the Recreation Department of Laurens Mill, Watts Mill, and for the City of Laurens. Mr. Craine coached one of Laurens’ first Little League teams and coached two Girls Softball teams to State Championships in the late 1950’s.
He was a member of Hillcrest Baptist where he served as Deacon and Sunday School Teacher, he also was a long time Gideon.
He earned his B. S. Degree Presbyterian College, M. S. Degree from Georgia Southern College. He did post-graduate work at Clemson, USC, the Citadel, Georgia Tech and Western Carolina University
Mr. Craine was a career educator having served as Coach, Teacher and School Administrator in Springfield public schools, Lockhart area schools, Hickory Tavern schools, he was also involved with Adult Education in Laurens School District 55 and 56. He was active in American Legion Baseball in Orangeburg and Union Counties, and was an Athletic Official for the SC High School League and Southern Conference.
Mr. Craine is survived by a son, Larry Craine and wife, Stephanie of Greer, SC, their children, Austin Craine of Boston, MA and Lauren Craine of Greer, SC; a daughter, Edie Kinney and husband, Hal, of Knoxville, TN; and a sister, Bettie Craine Howe of Laurens.
In addition to his wife and parents, he was predeceased by a brother and sister-in-law, Rev. Dr. James P. Craine and Helen Ruth Craine; a sister, Mildred Craine Doyle and husband, Charles Doyle; a brother-in-law, Claude Howe.
A memorial service will be conducted Saturday, January 9, 2016, at 2:30 PM, at the Gray Funeral Home Chapel in Laurens.
The family will receive friends prior to the memorial service from 1:00 to 2:30 PM at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, P. O. Box 1178, Greenwood, SC, 29648,
Condolences may be expressed online at www.grayfuneralhome.com
Gray Funeral Home of Laurens