Seventh Generation (Continued)
Carroll Fenton Craft (Carroll Freeman6, James Frederick5, Sarah Ann Arenberg4, Johann MatthaĆ¼s3, Frederica Margareta Bleysteiner2, Johann Mathias Bleisteiner1).
Born on 2 Mar 1936 in Lowell, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, U.S.A.33 Carroll Fenton died in Tulsa, Tulsa Co., Oklahoma, U.S.A., on 15 May 2018; he was 82. Occupation: Registered Nurse, Accountant.
Carroll Craft grew up in Lowell, Massachusetts, beginning piano lessons at a young age and learning to play the organ. He became the organist for his church at age 15, while attending Lowell High School. He worked at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston while attending nursing school and university. He earned his Registered Nurse qualifications and worked as a surgical nurse and operating room supervisor.
With the Vietnam War escalating, he joined the National Guard while attending Northeastern University in Boston, where he earned a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry. Upon completion of his degree, he served in the 39th Signal Battalion of the United States Army and was stationed in Vietnam for one year (1963-1964). He was then stationed in Fort Gordon, Georgia, where he developed a taste for sweet iced tea and a love for the country life. He served as an organist for the Saint Mark Methodist Church in Augusta, Georgia. He earned the rank of Captain.
After his time in the Army was served, Carroll Craft returned to Northeastern University in Boston to earn a master's in accounting. He married Joyce Etta Merrifield and worked as a Certified Public Accountant for an accounting firm for three years. They had a daughter, Sarah Lynn. He missed management and longed for a country lifestyle, so he found employment at Xavier Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa as supervisor over nursing, living in the vast country where his wife would often report "the nearest neighbor isn't for miles!" He then transferred to St. John's Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he worked as Nursing Supervisor and eventually as the Chief Financial Officer. The family lived in Inola, Okahoma, living on 10 acres, raising Aberdeen Angus cows, chickens, and vegetables, and keeping bees.
His love for learning never stopped, even attending Harvard University Business School's Advanced Management Program for senior executives. Over the years, he continued serving as organist and choir director at several churches in Claremore, Pryor and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
In 1991, Carroll Craft earned the Archbishop's Certificate in Church Music from the Royal College of Church Music of Salisbury, England after three years of in-depth research. He was one of 13 musicians in the world, and the only American, awarded the archbishop's certificate that year. He was instrumental in the installation of a one-of-a kind 1894 mechanical pipe organ built by the Moller Organ Company at All Saints Anglican Church in Tulsa, where he was the organist and choirmaster at the time. He loved playing that organ! He retired from All Saints at age 77 after 62 years of being a church organist. After retiring from 32 years working at St. John's Health System, Carroll enjoyed studying French, both at university and through a tutor, attending historical organ tours around the world, and travelling. (Moore Funeral Home, Tulsa, Oklahoma)
In 1969 Carroll Fenton married
Joyce Etta Merrifield in Concord, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Born on 31 Mar 1939 in Sanford, York Co., Maine, U.S.A.31,74 Joyce Etta died in Tulsa, Tulsa Co., Oklahoma, U.S.A., on 28 Jun 2008; she was 69.31,74 Occupation: Teacher.
Stephen Douglas Craft (Living) married Stella Ann Maxfield. Born on 30 Oct 1929 in Portland, Cumberland Co., Maine, U.S.A. Stella Ann died in Maine, U.S.A., on 18 Apr 2015; she was 85.