Donald "Don" Roger Crays

Notes:

He was a 1953 graduate of Tobias High School, and since that date has farmed in the area of Milligan and Tobais. Don and Shelia purchased the Joe and Anna Herynk farmer, and in 2008 received the Nebraska Pioneer Farm award for having a farm within the family for 100 years or more. They farm and raise registered polled Hereford cattle.

Don Roger Crays was born to Donald and Anna (Herynk) Crays on October 1, 1935 on a farm southwest of Tobias, NE. He passed away September 23, 2023 in Grand Island, NE at the age of 87. He was the oldest of five children.

He attended Atlanta Center Country School through 8th grade and graduated from Tobias High School in 1953. Before becoming a full time farmer, he worked for the railroad in Lincoln, appraised land in Custer County, constructed concrete elevators around the Milligan area, and worked at the ammunition depot in Hasting.

Don began farming at the age of 15 with his grandfather Joe Herynk on the farm that eventually became his lifelong home. He was proud to be the owner of three farms that have been in the family for over 100 years that all received the Nebraska Pioneer Farm Family award.

Don was married to Sheila Elznic in Exeter, NE on November 6, 1965. To this union, three daughters were born; Stephanie, Linda and Clara.

His love for cattle started at a young age when he began showing in 4-H, this led to over 40 years as a 4-H leader mentoring many youth including his sisters and daughters. His passion for Polled Hereford cattle began in 1976 with the purchase of four heifers from his brother, Roland. Little did he know this endeavor would be the beginning of many friendships and "family vacations" to cattle shows and events across the nation. Don & Sheila served as Nebraska Junior Polled Hereford Advisors for three years and were awarded the Nebraska Hereford Association Outstanding Breeder and Pioneer Breeder Awards.

He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, serving on the parish council, the Tobias Volunteer Fire Department and EMTs, serving as the Fire Chief, the Nebraska Hereford Association, and the American Hereford Association.

Don will long be remembered for his orneriness, his signature cowboy hat and cigar, his passion for cattle and horses but most of all his dedication to his family and friends.

Don was preceded in death by his parents Don & Anne Crays, in-laws Clarence & Evelyn Elznic, grandson Seth McKay, brother-in-law Leo Etter, and sister-in-law Norma Crays.

Don is survived by his wife Shelia of Tobias; daughters, Stephanie (Kirk) Jensen, Courtland, KS, Linda (Grant) McKay Marysville, KS, Clara (Tim) Grace, Humboldt, SD; grandchildren, Cody, Casey (Rileigh), Jessica Jensen, Bailey McKay, Kane, Weston, Xavier, & Blaze Grace; Great-Granddaughter Blair Jensen; Siblings, Roland Crays, Barry (Jean) Crays, Sharon (Jerry) Kroese, and Karen Etter; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Don will be held on Thursday, September 28, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Tobias, Nebraska with Father Robert Barnhill presiding.

Visitation will take place on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 from 1:00 p,.m. until 8:00 p.m. with family present from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Farmer & Son Funeral Home - Kotas Chapel in Milligan, Nebraska.

Visitation will cease at 6:00 p.m. for the Praying of the Rosary but will continue following the Rosary at 6:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Praying of the Rosary will be held on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at Farmer & Son Funeral Home - Kotas Chapel in Milligan, Nebraska with Father Robert Barnhill leading the Rosary.

Graveside Services will be conducted following the funeral service at the Atlanta Cemetery in rural Milligan, Nebraska.

In Lieu of Flowers - Memorials are to be directed to the family to be designated at a later date.

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy, From Farmer & Son Funeral Home)

Donald married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

SSN 507-46-9741

(Research):

Census Listings:

1940 Census
Nebraska, Saline County, Atlanta Twp
Enumerated 13 Apr 1940
SD 8 ED 76-1 Sheet 2B
33-R-10
Crays, Donald C Head M W 25 m H-3 Neb R Saline Neb Farmer
Crays, Anna A Wf F W 26 M H-4 Neb R Saline Neb
Crays, Don Roger Son M W 4 S Neb
Crays, Rollin David Son M W 2 S Neb

Donald married Anna A. "Annie" Herynk on 16 Jun 1933. Anna (daughter of Joseph Herynk and Anna Dlouhy) was born on 14 May 1913 in Tobias, Saline County, Nebraska; died on 3 Dec 1997 in Tobias, Saline County, Nebraska; was buried in Atlanta Center Cemetery, Saline County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

SSN 506-48-3066

Crays -- Anna A., 84, Tobias, widow of Don C., died Wednesday (12/3/97), Friend. Born, Tobias. Survivors: sons, daughters-in-law, Don R. and Sheila Crays, Tobias, Roland and Norma Crays, Barry R. and Jean Crays, all Milligan; daughters, sons-in-law, Sharon F. and Jerry Kroese, DeWitt, Karen A. and Leo Etter, Oxford, Ind.; sisters, Blanche Havel, Long Beach, Calif., Allene Tesar, Crete; 13 grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; eight great- grandchildren; 13 stepgreat-grandchildren; one stepgreat-great-grandchild. Services: 10 a.m. Saturday, St. Jo- seph's Catholic Church, Tobias. The Rev. Joel Panzer. Atlanta Cemetery, Tobias. Rosary service, today, 7:30 p.m., Farmer & Son Funeral Home, Kotas Chapel, Milligan. Visitation: today, beginning at 1 p.m., funeral home. Memorials to the family.

(Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy)

Notes:

Married:
On their double tombstone, the name of their five children are engraved, as follows: "Parents of Don R., Roland, Barry, Sharon & Karen."

Notes:

He was the son of John and Mary Jane Tosh Crays. He purchased his father's farm in Tobias in 1898 and moved there in 1905 when his father retired. He later sold the farm to his son Donald. (Milligan, p 254).

(Research):

Census Listings:

1920 Census
Nebraska, Saline County, Atlanta Precinct
Enumerated 15 Jan 1920
SD 4 ED 124 Sheet 5B
92 -93
Crays, Charlie W Head M W 51 M Ill Ind Ill Farmer
Crays, Minnie Wf F W 47 M Ill England/English Iowa
Crays, Faye Dtr F W 18 S Neb Ill Ill
Crays, Mabel M Dtr F W 13 S Neb Ill Ill
Crays, Donald Son M W 5 S Neb Ill Ill

Charles married Minnie Ellen Davies on 21 Nov 1899 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Minnie (daughter of William Davies and Martha Ellen O'Neel) was born on 16 Jan 1872 in Lee Center, Lee County, Illinois; died on 6 Jan 1952 in Friend, Saline County, Nebraska; was buried in Atlanta Center Cemetery, Saline County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She was the daughter of William and Martha Ellen Neel Davies, and was previously married to a Smith. (Milligan, p 254). FindAGrave shows that his full name was Chauncey Holman SMITH, and that they were the parents of Bertha Adelle Smith Barrett.

Notes:

Joseph became the owner of his parents farm in 1922. Later his daughter and son-in-law, Agnes and Henry Kassik owned it. Their sons, Ralph and Richard Kassik are the fourth generation to own and farm the land. Joe was a member of the Lodge Svatopluk Chech of Milligan for over 50 years (Milligan, p 299).

Joseph married Anna Dlouhy on 22 Feb 1909 in Geneva, Fillmore County, Nebraska. Anna (daughter of Adolph Dlouhy and Marie A. Cvach) was born on 6 Jun 1889 in Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska; died on 8 Jun 1965 in Tobias, Saline County, Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
"(Four couples) celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary February 22, 1959....They were Mr. and Mrs. Frank Capek, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Capek, Mrs. and Mrs. Frank Hromadka, and Mrs. and Mrs. Joseph Herynk. The Capeks and Hromadkas celebrated their 50th anniversary at the Milligan Auditorium and the Herynks celebrated their 50th anniversary at Tobias Hall." (Milligan, p 236)

Notes:

The Crays moved to Wilber, Nebraska in 1885, moving to Tobias in 1890. (Milligan, p 254).

(Research):

Census Listings:

1860 Census
Illinois, Macoupin County, Town 11 Range 6
Enumerated 21 July 1860
PO Nilwood, Page 101
705-685
John Crays 31 M Farmer 200 @00 Ind
Mary J Crays 22 F Ill
Mary J Crays 5 F Ill
Melvina A Crays 2 F Ill

1870 Census
Illinois, Macoupin County, Twp 11 Range 7
Enumerated 17 Jun 1870
PO Carlinville Page 4
27-28
Crase John 41 M W Farmer 1000 200 Ind
Crase, Mary 22 F W Keeping House Ill
Crase, Isabel 14 F W Ill
Crase, Malvina 11 F W Ill
Crase, Angelina 10 F W Ill
Crase, Alice 8 F W Ill
Crase, Rie 6 F W Ill
Crase, Mauba 4 F W Ill
Crase, Charles 1 M W Ill

1880 Census
Illinois, Macoupin County, South Otter Twp
Enumerated 10 Jun 1880
Page 15 SD 6 ED 126 Stamped 327
138-138
Crays, John W M 52 Farming Ind Tenn Tenn
Crays, Mary W F 42 Wf Keeping Ill Tenn Tenn
Crays, Anna W F 22 Dtr At Home Ill Ind Ill
Crays, Alice W F 19 Dtr At Home Ill Ind Ill
Crays, Maria W F 15 Dtr Ill Ind Ill
Crays, Manyy W F 11 Dtr Ill Ind Ill
Crays, Charles W M 11 Son Ill Ind Ill
Crays, Laura W F 7 Str Ill Ind Ill
Crays, Wilburn W M 10/12 Aug Son Ill Ind Ill

John married Mary Jane Tosh on 2 Dec 1853 in Macon County, Illinois. Mary was born on 1 Sep 1838 in Illinois; died on 22 Apr 1924 in Nebraska; was buried in Tobias City Cemetery, Tobias, Saline County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Their Illinois Marriage record can be found at the Macon County Court Records, Film # 0983125 - 0983126.

They had a total of three sons and seven daughters: Charles, a farmer of Tobias, Wilburn, an auctioneer from Bruning, Mark, showed free movies in neighboring towns and in Texas, Laura (Mrs. Will Fisher), Tobias, Belle (Mrs. W.F. Nevins), Fairfield, Marie (Mrs. Chas. Harding), Cambridge, Ida (Mrs. Frank Osborne), Crete, Ann (Mrs. G.M. Dougherty), Bruning, Alice (Mrs. Chas. Pike), Bruning, Angeline (Mrs. Thayer), of Colorado. (Milligan, p 255).

Posting from GenForum:

John J. CRAYS and his wife, Mary Jane TOSH came from Palmyra, Macoupin Co., IL about 1885 settling in Tobias. All of their children were born in Palmyra. The entire family came to Nebraska. Also, Mary Jane's nephew, William Riley TOSH also accompanied them from Palmyra, IL to Saline Co., IL.

Their children: Mary Jane CRAYS b. 1855, Gertie Maude CRAYS b. 1856 d. 1858, Anna Melvina CRAYS b. 1858, Lydia Angeline CRAYS b. 1860, Alice CRAYS b. 1863, Marie(a) b. 1865, Ida (Manly) CRAYS b. 1867, Charles Wesley CRAYS b. 1868, Laura E. CRAYS b. 1876, J. Wilburn CRAYS b. 1879, a child b. & d. before 1883 and Mark L. CRAYS b. 1883.

Any information on these families is appreciated. Desire contact with descendants. Have been working on the CRAYS and TOSH Families over 25 years. Will exchange.

Posted by Linda Arnold on 21 Aug 1999

Notes:

William was born in Wales, then moved to London, England where he worked as a shoemaker. Later, he moved to New York, then Chicago, and to Lee County, Illinois, where he bought a farm. He moved his family to Saline County, Nebraska in 1875 where he raised shorthorn cattle and Chester White hogs. His farm was in Section 22 Atlanta Precinct which was one-half mile west of the Atlanta City Cemetery (Milligan, p 257).

William married Martha Ellen O'Neel on 24 Mar 1871. Martha was born before 1851 in Mount Vernon, Knox County, Ohio; died on 17 May 1904 in Saline County, Nebraska; was buried in Atlanta Center Cemetery, Saline County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

They traveled to America with the John CAPEK family, arriving at Exeter April 27, 1880. They were brought to the Anton and Frank SVEC home, and assisted them in brick making. They later purchased the n 1/2 SW 1/4 of Section 27, Glengary Township, from John VEJRASKA, and adding the S 1/2 of this quarter section in January of 1892, buying it from Vaclav VEJRASKA. (Milligan, p 299).

Anton married Terezie Vejraska. Terezie (daughter of Jan Vejraska and Rosalie Sladek) was born on 15 Oct 1852 in Lodenice, Nov? Stra?ec?, Bohemia; died on 21 Jan 1942 in Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian National Cemetery (Milligan South), Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
The biography of Anton J. Capek, Jr. in the Milligan book list his grandparents as "Joseph and Marie Vejraska Herynk," and goes on to note that they "came to America with the Capeks in 1880." (p 233). Their oldest son was born and died in Bohemia before they emigrated to the United States. (p 299).

Notes:

Lived on the NW 1/4 of Section 6, Olive Township. He became a citizen on 7 October 1892 in Saline County. (Milligan, p 260).

Adolph married Marie A. Cvach on 31 Oct 1887. Marie was born on 8 Dec 1867 in Bohemia; died on 2 Dec 1940 in Nebraska; was buried in Bohemian Brethren Cemetery (AKA Cesky Bratri Cemetery), Fillmore County, Nebraska. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The daughter of Joseph and Mary Cvach. (Milligan, p 260).

Place of birth shown as Sudomerice Kraj, Tabor, Bohemia