Donald "Don" Roger Crays

1935 - 2023  (87 years)

• Name	Donald "Don" Roger Crays  [1, 2]
  Nickname	Don
  Birth	1 Oct 1935	Saline County, Nebraska   [2]
  Gender	Male
  Death	23 Sep 2023	Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska
  Burial	28 Sep 2023	Atlanta Center Cemetery, Saline County, Nebraska
  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)
  Person ID	I3074	Strong Family Tree
  Last Modified	4 Oct 2023

  
  

  Father	Donald Charles Crays,   b. 27 Apr 1914, Tobias, Saline County, Nebraska d. 23 Feb 1966, Tobias, Saline County, Nebraska (Age 51 years)
  Mother	Anna A. "Annie" Herynk,   b. 14 May 1913, Tobias, Saline County, Nebraska d. 3 Dec 1997, Tobias, Saline County, Nebraska (Age 84 years)
  Marriage	16 Jun 1933  [1, 3]
  	On their double tombstone, the name of their five children are engraved, as follows: "Parents of Don R., Roland, Barry, Sharon & Karen."
  Family ID	F1805	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Living
  Family ID	F12880	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	27 May 2013

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 1 Oct 1935 - Saline County, Nebraska Death - 23 Sep 2023 - Grand Island, Hall County, Nebraska Burial - 28 Sep 2023 - Atlanta Center Cemetery, Saline County, Nebraska  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Sources

  [S219] Milligan Centennial History Book Committee HISTORY OF MILLIGAN, NEBRASKA 1888-1988 (Walsworth Publishing, Marceline, MO), p 254 (Reliability: 3). [S1299] 1940 United States Federal Census [Ancestry.com. database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012, (Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls.), Nebraska, Saline County, Atlanta Twp Enumerated 13 Apr 1940 SD 8 ED 76-1 Sheet 2B 33-R-10 (Reliability: 3). [S873] Find A Grave [database online]; http://www.findagrave.com/, (Thousands of contributors submit new listings, updates, corrections, photographs and virtual flowers every hour to the FIND A GRAVE website. When it comes to administrating, building and maintaining the site, Find A Grave is largely operated by its founder, Jim Tipton.), # 91144715 (Reliability: 3).