J.G. Creider

J. George Creider passed away on June 6, 2014. George was born on Aug. 17, 1912, in Red Cloud, Nebraska, the son of William C. and Julia (Shute) Creider. The oldest of four children, George graduated from Chandler High School, moving with his family to Broken Arrow in 1933.  George and Alice Maye (Mazie) Meyhoffer were married on August 31, 1940 and were wonderful parents to their daughter Beverly. In 1937 George began a 40 year career with Lee C. Moore, a Tulsa-based oil derrick manufacturing and assembly company. For most of his career George was foreman for the crew who assembled Lee C. Moore’s innovative steel derricks that were used across the world. George’s knowledge, work ethic and management style inspired the loyalty and respect of his fellow employees. Following his retirement in 1977, George and Mazie moved to an acreage outside of Skiatook. George never slowed down during his retirement. Keeping busy also helped George deal with his grief upon Mazie’s passing in 1983. George always had a bountiful garden; he was a model train hobbyist; and from his workshop came thousands of wood toys and ornaments which he donated to school groups and other Skiatook organizations for their fund-raisers. His loving and caring way; his generosity, warm smile and contagious laugh touched the lives of all who knew him. He was beloved by all of his family and by his valued friends. George was very proud of his family and was always an important part of their lives. He loved Beverly and cherished her husband Roy Bradley as his son. George was his granddaughters’ number one cheerleader, traveling all over the country as Dee had national success competing in micro race car events; he attended nearly all of Debbie’s high school softball and basketball games. He was also most supportive of his great granddaughters, helping Kara get started with her show rabbit business and was an avid fan of Kelsey and her softball team. George lived to be nearly 102 years old. Although his body gave out at the end of his life, his mind and spirit and the warmth of his personality were always intact. To the very end, George’s hand grip was strong; his face always beamed with his smile. In addition to Mazie and his parents, George was also preceded in death by his sister Sarah Suchanek, and brothers James Creider and Bill Creider.
He is survived by his daughter and son in law, Beverly and Roy Bradley, grand daughters Dee McElhaney and Debbie Bradley, and great granddaughters Kara and Kelsey McElhaney.
George’s memorial service will be held at 10 AM, Wednesday, June 11th at the Sien-Shelton Funeral Home in Skiatook.

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