Mansfield Seth “Manny” Crafts Jr., 82, of Warren, VT, passed away in the comfort of his home with family on Saturday evening, September 8, 2012. Born in Concord, NH, on April 7, 1930, he was the son of the late Mansfield Seth Crafts Sr. and Eliza (Colby) Crafts Bergstrom. Manny was previously married to the former Patricia Yeaton. On January 23, 1982, he married the former Jane (Carney) Johnston in Waitsfield, VT.
Manny graduated from Pembroke (NH) Academy and continued his education at New England College in Henniker, NH. As a young man, Manny owned and operated the Rocking Moon Snack Bar at Bear Brook State Park in NH and then embarked on a long and successful career in the propane gas business. He was the owner of Crafts Gas and Electric in Pembroke, NH, which he operated for many years and then, following his move to Vermont, he worked for Pyrofax Gas and AmeriGas. In addition, Manny owned and operated Crafts Training, which took him throughout New England teaching propane safety classes for technicians to be certified.
Freemasonry was an important part of Manny’s life. He was a 50-year member and past master of Jewel Masonic Lodge #94 of Suncook, NH, and a 30-year member of Mad River Masonic Lodge #77 in Waitsfield, VT. His other memberships included the Plausawa Valley Country Club, the Vermont Fuel Dealers Association and the Green Mountain Chapter of Family Motor Coach Association.
In his leisure time, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, boating and traveling with his wife Jane in their motor home.
Manny’s family fondly remembers him for the love, caring and consideration that he showed to them; how he always made sure that his wife, children and grandchildren felt how much they meant to him and how he took great delight in spending time together and being involved in all of his family’s activities and adventures.
Manny is survived by his wife of 30 years, Jane Crafts of Warren, VT; his children, Cynthia J. Wilkinson and her husband Thomas of Concord, NH, Deborah C. Stempel and her husband Sylvester of Waterbury Center, VT, James M. Crafts of Warren, VT, and Patrick J. Johnston of Carefree, AZ; his six grandchildren, Nathan Wilkinson, Kristin Wilkinson, Sara Wilkinson, Karli Stempel, J. Griffin Crafts and Samuel M. Crafts; his former wife, Patricia Y. Crafts of Pembroke, NH; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. Manny was predeceased by a son, Jonathan Seth Crafts, two brothers, William M. Crafts and Charles G. Crafts, and a sister, Virginia C. Wells.
Memorial services will be held from the Waitsfield (VT) United Church of Christ on Thursday, September 13, 2012, at 2 p.m. with a reception to follow in the church dining room. Services will be held in Concord, NH, at a date and time to be announced. For those who wish, memorial gifts would be appreciated to Central Vermont Home Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre, VT 05641, www.cvhhh.org, or to the Mad River Valley Ambulance Service, P.O. Box 305, Waitsfield, VT 05673. To send online condolences please visit www.perkinsparker.com and Facebook. Assisting the family is the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury, VT.
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