Ray Harley Cranston, the son of Harley and Gladys (Flint) Cranston, was born on January 19, 1933. He had three siblings, Cleone, Coleen, and Merlyn, and grew up on the family farm located in Everly. He attended his early school years in a one-room schoolhouse, which was located about a mile from the family’s farm. He frequently would ride his beloved pony, Billy, to and from the schoolhouse. After attending Everly High School, he grew passionate working alongside his father on the family’s farm. He made a lifetime career of farming, surrounding himself with the very best in farming, his wife Dorothy and Gary Weiskircher. Ray served in the Army and the Korean War.
After returning home, Ray met the love of his life, Dorothy (Langel) Cranston at the Roof Garden in Okoboji, IA. The two had a seven-year courtship and were married on March 14, 1964, in Des Moines, IA, making their home north of Everly, IA on the farm for many years. The marriage was blessed with two daughters, Hayley and Lynn.
Ray put his family and farming above everything. You could frequently find him in the fields checking on corn and soybeans or in the shop working on a project. Ray thoroughly enjoyed his sense of community and living in his small town, blessed with great family, friends and neighbors. Especially the lifetime of support from nephew, Leo Behrens, and his wife Kathy, including their sons, Brad and Greg, along with grandsons, Dylan and Drew.
Ray passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Sunday, July 21, 2024, at the Spencer Hospital, at the age of 91. His granddaughter, Andrea, and her fiancé, Jake, were lucky to have a wonderful last visit with Ray in the afternoon which included lots of laughter and smiles to last a lifetime.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy (Langel) Cranston; his daughter, Hayley Cranston Shepard; his parents; brother, Merlyn Cranston; sisters, Coleen Behrens and Cleone Cranston; brothers-in-law, Ervin Behrens, Paul Hintz, Earl Langel, and Dale Langel; sister-in-law, JoAnn Langel; niece, Cindy Hintz Rush; nephews, Marty Langel and Allan Langel.
Left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Lynn, and her husband, Dan Burke; granddaughter, Andrea Burke (fiancé, Jake Archer);son-in-law, Dr. Allan Shepard of Tega Cay, South Carolina; and sisters-in-law, Maxine Cranston, Phyllis Hintz, Glatha Langel, and Mary Langel; brother-in-law, Wayne Langel, and numerous relatives and friends.
