(Veterans Flag picture) Larry Dean Crider, 66, of Blair, died Friday, Feb. 21, 2014.

A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Sunday, March 2, at Campbell-Aman Funeral Home in Blair. Visitation will begin at 12:30 p.m. prior to the service.

A full obituary will be available later.

Memorials may be directed to the family for designation at a later date.

Posted on line: Monday, February 24, 2014; Published in The Enterprise, Friday, February 28, 2014

(Veterans Flag picture) Larry Dean Crider, 66

Larry Dean Crider, 66, of Blair, son of the late Modeen and Denver Atkins of McAlester, Okla., died Friday, February 21, 2014, in Omaha.

A visitation will begin at 12:30 p.m.with a memorial service at 2 p.m. Sunday at Campbell-Aman Funeral Home in Blair.

Larry Dean Crider was born Dec. 4, 1947, in Creek County, Okla., but spent his formative years in McAlester, graduating from McAlester High School in 1965.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1968. While in the Army, Cpl. Crider served in the Officers Club when he was stationed in Germany. He was discharged in 1970.

After his stint in the military, he went to work for the Federal Protective Service in Omaha. It was there that he met his wife, Jean Klitz. They were married Sept. 25, 1976, at Olean Church at Dodge and recently celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary.

In 1976, he began working for U.S. Immigration (now Homeland Security) in Garden City, Kan., returning to the Omaha office in 1984. During his service with Immigration, he received The Commissioner’s Award for his work as a lead investigator.

The couple moved to Blair in 2000 and he retired in 2001.

After retirement, Mr. Crider worked in his yard: mowing, landscaping, planting trees and raising vegetables in his large garden. He could also be found working at the Blue Diamond car wash in Blair in the winter months and enjoying visiting with his Allen Hills neighbors all year round.

He was an avid golfer and enjoyed hunting. He loved OU football! Every Saturday afternoon during football season, he was surrounded by his OU memorabilia and watching his “Sooners” in action.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Modeen and Denver Atkins of McAlester Okla.; an older brother, Gerald Cathey of Fort Worth, Texas and his father and mother-in-law, Joe and Sally Klitz of Dodge.

He is survived by his wife, Jean; sisters: Pat Cathey of Oklahoma City, Margaret West (Gerry) of Edmond, Okla., and their children Cheryl and Leslie; brother Ray (Susan) Cathey of Oklahoma City and their children Mike and Emily; sister-in-law, Betty Cathey and her son Duane of Fort Worth; sisters-in-law: Mary Kay Hensley of Schererville, Ind., Joan (Denny) Connor of Omaha and their children Julie, Andy, Jill and Kara; Janet (Gary) Dooley of Waterloo and Sally (Bob) Ritzdorf and daughter Emily of Howells; 12 great- nieces and nephews; and a host of friends. All will miss his presence in their lives.

Published in Omaha World-Herald from Feb. 27 to Mar. 1, 2014

(Veterans Flag picture) Crider, Larry Dean

Age 66

Blair, Nebraska. Survived by his wife Jean; sister Pat Cathey of Oklahoma City; sister Margaret West of Edmond, OK; brother Ray (Susan) Cathey of Oklahoma City; sister-in-law Betty Cathey; sisters-in-law, Mary Kay Hensley of Schererville IN, Joan (Denny) Connor of Omaha, Janet (Gary) Dooley of Waterloo, NE, Sally (Bob) Ritzdorf; several nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

VISITATION Sunday at 12:30pm with a MEMORIAL SERVICE at 2pm, all at the funeral home. CAMPBELL-AMAN FUNERAL HOME Blair, NE 402-426-2191 www.campbellaman.com

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~