Obituary of William Chester "Billy" Crafts

William Chester “Billy” Crafts, age 71, passed peacefully from this life on Wednesday, November 11, 2020, at St. Francis Hospital in Monroe, LA. He was born on July 10, 1949 to Leon and Minnie Crafts (Pratt) in Northhampton, MA. Billy enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, casrpentry, mechanics, horses and family. Billy is survived by wife Denice; four children: Michael Craft (Barbie) of Urania, Melissa Chapman (Will and friend Sheila) of Ferriday, Connie Puckett (Claude) of Ball and Amanda Lowery (James) of Texas; twenty-two grandkids; twenty-one great grandkids; five sisters, Avis Mayrand, Ruth Sparks, Marilyn Harrison, Sue Hunkler and Lorraine Gamache; three brothers: Raymond Crafts, Clarence Crafts and Mark Crafts; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by both parents, father-in-law, one grandson, seven brothers and three sisters.Billy served in the United States Army and is a Veteran of the Vietnam War where he received several medals including the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and Army Commendation Medal. So to all his commrades “ Hoo-Rah”. A time of gathering will be held on Friday November 13, 2020 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Tullos First Baptist Church sanctuary, Tullos, LA located at 9970 South Main, Tullos, LA . Funeral services will be held on Saturday November 14, 2020 at 2:00 PM at the Tullos First Baptist Church with Bro. Scott Smith officiating. Interment will immediately follow at the Urania Cemetery at Urania with services under ditrection of Riser & Son Funeral Home of Olla and Columbia. Serving as pallbearers will be Brian Matthews, Will Chapman, Colby Puckett, Cody Frizzell, John Welch and Robert Jenkins. Honorary pallbearers include Raymond Crafts and Mark Crafts. Online registry/condolences: riserfuneralhomes.com