Barbara L. Cravens

Barbara L. Cravens, 85, of Dowagiac, passed away, Thursday, October 12, 2017 at The Timbers of Cass County in Dowagiac. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Wednesday, October 18, 2017 at Clark Chapel, 405 Center St., Dowagiac, with Rev. Kel Penny officiating. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Dowagiac.  Friends may visit from 12:00-1:00 P.M. prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorial Contributions can be made in her name to First United Methodist Church in Dowagiac.  Those wishing to sign Barbara’s Memory Book online may do so at www.clarkch.com. Barbara was born July 7, 1932 in Dowagiac. She graduated from Dowagiac High School, Class of 1950 and later earned an Associate’s Degree from Southwest Michigan College.  Barbara was a stay at home wife & mother until her youngest started high school.   She also was employed as a secretary at Woodlands Behavioral Healthcare in Cassopolis.  She held that position for many years.  On December 30, 1971 she married Robert Cravens in Dowagiac.  Robert was her best friend and the love of her life.  Barbara was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Dowagiac. Barbara is survived by her children-James (Kathy) Peterson of Brooksville, FL, Jackie (Mike) O’Brien of Decatur, MI, Vickie (John) MacKay of Lake George, MI, Michael (Karen) Peterson of Gig Harbor, WA, Patti Boeke of Chicago; grandchildren-Jaime (Amanda) Peterson, Brent (Sarah) Peterson, Stevan (Ruth) Peterson, Jared (Kiersten) Peterson, Chris (Jenny) O’Brien, Kelli (Landon) Carlson, Amy Schell, Adam (Cindy) O’Brien, Rusty Cline, Leigha Cline, Ashton & Chandler Boeke; fourteen great-grandchildren; her sister Jane (Ben) Gajewski of Crossville, TN; several nieces & nephews; and her former husband Jerry Peterson of Brooksville, FL. She was preceded in death by her mother & step-father Melvina & Leonard Cox, her sister Doris Kronewitter and her husband Robert Cravens.