Reverend George P. Craycroft - September 19, 2007

Father George P. Craycroft, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Louisville, died Sept. 19 at his home in New Haven, Ky. He was 80 and had been a priest for 49 years.

A native of New Haven, Father Craycroft was ordained to the priesthood May 31, 1958. He served as chaplain at the former St. Thomas-St. Vincent Orphanage in Louisville and associate pastor at Most Blessed Sacrament, St. Elizabeth and St. Brigid churches in Louisville.

In June 1980 he was named pastor of Immaculate Conception Church, Culvertown, and St. Mark Church, Greenbrier, and in 1990 he became pastor of St. John the Baptist Church, Rineyville, and St. Ambrose Church, Cecilia. He was a part-time chaplain at Sansbury Infirmary at the St. Catharine Motherhouse starting in December 1991, and he retired Dec. 31, 1996.

He attended elementary and secondary school at St. Catherine in New Haven; college at Dayton University, Creighton University and St. Mary’s College, and seminary at St. Meinrad Seminary.

Survivors include three sisters, Mount St. Joseph Ursuline Sister Rose Marie Craycroft of Maple Mount, Ky., and Josephine Blanford and Lois Gahlinger, both of Louisville; four brothers, Father Bernard Leo Craycroft of Radcliff, Ky., Joe Paul Craycroft of Cincinnati, Ohio, and James F. Craycroft and Edward Craycroft, both of Louisville; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Sept. 25 at St. Catherine Church, New Haven. Burial was in the church cemetery.