Everett "Punch" Craft's Obituary
A Life Well Lived
Everett “Punch” Craft was born to Everett Craft and Ruby Mae Robinson in White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia. His days were spent running the streets with his friends and nights were spent running around the woods of the holler and mountains. His older friend, “Peadad” took Punch under his wing during their escapades. Peadad did his best to protect punch from the wonders and dangers of the mountains.
Punch always spoke highly of the Greenbrier Hotel, a prestigious place that accommodated former presidents and affluent people. He loved the golf courses and always wanted to go back to play on them one day. Much of his family worked at the Greenbrier during his childhood, but his grandfather was a coal miner.
Punch used to stop at his Aunt Bula’s house for food and his grandmother always had a pot of beans on the stove. He spent most of his young life in the outdoors, where he felt most at home because of a turbulent home life. Eventually Punch’s mother, Ruby Mae, divorced his father and his mother went on to remarry Lake Bolton. Lake had a large influence on Punch’s life, teaching him how to fix cars because, as Punch would say, Lake was a master mechanic. Punch said that Lake could fix anything.
The family moved back and forth between Ohio and West Virginia for a time but eventually settled in Ashtabula during Punch’s teen years to find work to support themselves. Punch even worked on the railroad for a time, actually forging his birth certificate to appear a year older to help his family. Punch attended Harbor High School where he excelled in all sports. He was told he could play for Ohio state in football by his coach, but, as we all know, love got in the way. Punch met his soulmate, Jesolie Emery at age 15. Jesolie or “Jessie” as she was known was eating a cherry pie the first time Punch saw her. He said it was running down her face and that it was love at first sight. They were married at age 17 at the Emery’s family home in 1951. They eventually moved into their first home together on 53rd Street in Ashtabula. It was a duplex shared by the Aunger family near First Presbyterian Church.
Jessie and Punch had their first child in 1952, Daniel Everett. Their second son, Jeffrey Lee came 2 years later, their first daughter, Shari Alismae in 1963 (she was the only preemie being born a month early and weighing 4lbs). With the family quickly growing, the Crafts moved into a large 2 story house on West 38th St and continued to live there for 30 years. Jessie’s mom, Alice, also lived with them for 25 years. Their third son, John Lake, was born in 1966 and their youngest child, Julie Ann Marie, in 1972. They attended First Presbyterian Church for most of their lives. As the kids were growing up, Punch spent a lot of time working, but also a lot of time coaching his sons various sports teams. Punch was gifted at all sports, and he coached his kids football, baseball, and basketball teams. Getting to play with and coach his kids were some of his fondest memories. Punch played slow and fast pitch softball with his sons through their adult years and played tackle football well into his 40’s.
Punch worked as supervisor of maintenance for the Ashtabula city school system for 30+ years. There was nothing he couldn’t fix, Including the school boilers. Reverend George Johnson would regularly ask for Punch’s opinions on maintenance issues at the church and Punch was always willing to help. He was also eager to help his kids and grandkids with fixing anything they asked about. Punch would help with things ranging from switching a light bulb to even changing an engine in a car. Many winter days were spent in the freezing cold changing oil and brakes in cars for his kids and grandkids.
Jessie tried her hand at working, but she needed to be home to raise kids. Mom’s taxi took all the kids everywhere they needed to go. She was also involved in PTA (with Punch) and church circle and the bell choir. She got the kids involved in church, scouts, 4h, and sports.
After years of late-night work phone calls to fix things or school break-ins he needed to check on and maybe a little too much coffee, Punch had two major heart attacks in his late 40s. After a triple bypass surgery, Punch reevaluated his life, changing to a strict diet and quitting smoking so that he could live to take care of his family. Dr Cosgrove at the Cleveland clinic, who did the surgery, said Punch had a magnificent heart. After sticking to his strict regimen, Punch was able to live another 51 years.
In 1990 tragedy struck the crafts with the passing of their youngest daughter, Julie at the age of 17 in a car accident. After mourning their daughter and leaning on their faith, the Crafts moved from their home on West 38th to the Ashtabula Harbor on 9th street.
In 2006 tragedy would find the Crafts again with their second son Jeff passing away from Myatonic Distrophy. Their oldest and youngest sons, John and Dan both passed in 2016. John was age 49 and had myatonic dystrophy and Dan had pancreatic cancer and was age 64. Dan beat cancer once before, 15 years prior, but it would not stay away.
During all of these trying times, Jessie and Punch strengthened their faith in God and Jesus, always knowing He had a plan. Jessie made sure that they continued to attend church. Never wavering in their faith, Jessie and Punch would regularly travel back and forth to Florida to spend time with their kids. John lived in Florida for many years, as did Shari. Dan spent many years in between Florida, Texas and Ohio during his retirement as well. Jessie and Punch did their best to spend as much time with their children as possible, traveling to Florida for the winters to stay with John and help him as much as they could as his disease progressed, while also traveling to Texas to spend time with Dan before he passed. They were also able to see Shari, as she was involved with helping her brothers as much as she could. They would make that “snowbird” trip for 9 years.
Throughout the course of these trying times, Jessie and Punch still found a way to be amazing grandparents to all of their grandchildren. Whether it was attending their sports games or helping them fix their cars Jessie and Punch were always there to help. Punch would love to play catch in the backyard with his grandsons, giving them pointers on how to pitch or throw a football. Jessie always loved fixing her grandkids pancakes in the morning or making spaghetti for dinner. They loved to take them on day trips to go swimming in the lake and or just having them come over to watch a movie. They always made time for their children and grandchildren no matter the occasion.
As Jessie and Punch got older, they decided it was best to stay in Ohio year-round. Around this time they started to attend Saybrook Methodist Church and became a part of their family. They loved to attend the outdoor services by the lake. In 2018, 2 years after the passing of their sons, Jessie would become sick with kidney cancer. Punch took care of her until the end, never leaving her side.
After Jessie’s passing, Punch started staying with Shari in Florida during the winters until he moved there permanently in 2019. He stayed with his daughter until he moved into an assisted living home in June of 2023. He was there for 5 months where he made an impact on most of the residents and staff. They all spoke very highly of him during his time there, knowing him as a Christian and a good man.
Punch used to say, “I’m a loner”. Referring to his time scrapping on the streets as a kid. And Shari would say, “yeah, alone with mom for 67 years (married). I don’t think that is considered a loner :)” (with a smile on her face)
Words from Punch’s daughter, Shari:
He was the strongest and hardest working Man I’ve ever known. He’d tell us to have a stiff upper lip, a testament to his English roots. He would tell everyone that marrying Jessie was the best decision he ever made. She was his whole existence and she saved his life at very young age. They read the Bible side by side at the kitchen table every morning. The reason they survived so much loss was their faith in Jesus, their faith in each other and their faith in the church and family.
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