Donald Morecraft

Donald Eugene Morecraft, Sr., 85, formerly of Paris, passed peacefully from this life on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023, following a fall the day before. He was 85 years old.

A celebration of life is at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 1, 2024, at the Paris V.F.W. in Paris, Illinois. Lunch and birthday cake will be served following the program.

Mr. Morecraft was born May 30, 1938, in Paris, the fifth child of Frances Josephine Davis and Harold Eugene Morecraft. 

Survivors include his wife, Nancy; his children, Donald Morecraft, Stephanie (Dan) Toller, Mel (Randy) Roach and Shanda (Robert) St Clair; grandchildren, Chastine (Chris) Owens, Tabitha Webster, Sarah (Jeff) Hoffman, Brooke Toller, Jacob (Sandra) Toller, Matt (Lynette) Roach and Zach (Tiana) Roach; great-grandchildren, Faith Daugherty, Zaine Daugherty, Grant Owens, Zoey Hoffman, Andrew Hoffman, Kelan Roach, Ayden Webster and Chase Roach; a brother, Jim (Debbie) Morecraft; four sisters, Eleanor Barbalas, Anna Purcell, Nancy (Joe) Creech and Suzy Brading; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frances and Gene; his brother, Bob Morecraft; three sisters, JoAnn Riley, Patsy Woll and Mary Ruth Haddix; and daughter-in-law, Susan Morecraft.

Growing up Mr. Morecraft had a paper route and set pins at the Paris Bowling Alley. Following his graduation from Paris High School in 1957, he joined the US Air Force and was stationed at Vandenburg in California.  

Following his service in the Air Force, he made his home back in Paris where he operated the Morecraft Painting Company. He went on to build many houses in the Paris area as well as Apple Valley, Calif. He also lived in Mesa, Ariz. and Memphis, Tenn. 

Mr. Morecraft was living in Bedford, Ind. with his daughter Melinda at the time of his death.

Mr. Morecraft was always looking for ways to serve others. Each of his children can look around their homes without seeing his handy work.  

While living in a senior community in Arizona, he was always concerned about the older residents. He would pick oranges and take them to his neighbors as well as leave them in the common areas for others to take.  

While living in Memphis, he would use his talents – gardening and working with his hands – to bless the lives of his neighbors.

While the family is heartbroken at the loss of our Mr. Morecraft, they take comfort that he is with loved ones on the other side of the veil. He loved Jesus Christ and his Heavenly Father and spent a considerable amount of his later years immersed in the scriptures and writing books.

The family wishes to acknowledge the wonderful care he received from the ER and third-floor staff at IU Health Bloomington. A heartfelt thank you to the team at SouthernCare Hospice for their quick response and their loving compassion, especially Alissa, Dan, Kelly and Rick.

Mr. Morecraft was an avid gardener, as was his mother, and his great-grandfather before him. He always had lots of tomatoes to share.  

In honor of his memory, the family has purchased 80 tomato plants from Weirs Florist (713 Clinton Road). The plants are available for pickup to anyone who would like some.  Please limit to four plants apiece. Just tell the shop that Don sent you.