John Lee (J.L.) Cravens, age 86, of Lenoir City, TN, formerly of Williamsville, Illinois and Leitchfield, KY, passed away Friday, (January 6, 2012) at his home after a long illness.

He was born on March 7, 1925, in Leitchfield, Kentucky, the son of the late Marvin A. and Ida "Granny" Young Cravens. He married Mary Agnes Kiper on April 20, 1946, in Leitchfield, KY.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Agnes Kiper Cravens; one son, Curtis Cravens (wife- Nora) of Navota, California; three daughters, Wanda Snedeker (husband-Wallace) of Loudon, Tennessee, Joyce Arnold (husband- Phil) of Springfield, Illinois and Rita Levi (husband Preston-deceased) of Ft Lauderdale, Florida; two sisters, Mary Alice Kiper of Leitchfield and Barbara Byerline Jones of Butler Co. Kentucky; ten grandchildren, Angela Drysdale, Cynthia and Randy Cravens, Matthew and Sarah Smith, Nathan and Emily Arnold, Cameron and Lucy Cravens and Ayden Derrick; four great-grandchildren, Evan and Erin Drysdale and Brennan and Brady Smith. Also surviving are Joanna Sharp Cravens and Christian Sharp, along with several other relatives.

Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Maurice Cravens, his brother, George W. Cravens and his sister, Norma Jean Mangold.

A 1943 graduate of Short Creek High School, John served in the US Army 126th Anti aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion in Europe from 1943-1946. John and Mary married when he returned. There he farmed, worked construction in Brandenburg and Fort Knox, KY. They moved to Athens and Williamsville, Illinois where he farmed and later worked at the Williamsville Farmers Coop. He was a volunteer fireman and fire chief for the Williamsville Fire Dept. and was active in Civil defense. John was baptized at the Williamsville Christian Church, where he and Mary Agnes happily worshipped. John and Mary Agnes retired back home to Leitchfield, KY, where he was an elder at the Leitchfield Christian Church for several years. In 2008 they moved to Lenoir, City to be close to their eldest daughter and joined the Christian Church of Loudon County.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday (January 10, 2012) at the Dermitt Funeral Home in Leitchfield. Bro. Lee Schroerlucke will be officiating. Burial will be in the Claggett Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Dermitt Funeral Home in Leitchfield from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday and from 10:00 a.m. Tuesday until time of service.

Expressions of sympathy can take the form of donations to the Christian Church of Loudon County, in Lenoir City, Tennessee.

Online condolences can be made in the guestbook on our website at www.dermittfuneralhome.com