Rev. Clay Thaddeus Cramer, 84, for many years a resident of 316 West Elm, Olney, passed away Sunday December 29, 1974 at the Lawrence County Memorial Hospital.  In recent weeks, Rev. Cramer had resided at the U.M. Village at Lawrenceville.  Funeral services at Summers-Marshall funeral Home with Rev. Dr. W.A. Robinson officiating.  Entombment in the Mausoleum in Riverside Cemetery at Newton.

He was born near Yale in Jasper County on November 2, 1890, son of Amos L. and Sattie Atwood Cramer.  As a young man, he entered the teaching profession and spent 42 years in educational work.  He obtained his bachelor’s degree from the Normal School at Danville, Ind. and his master’s degree from the University of Missouri.

He entered World War I in 1917 and was married on November 15, 1918 to Ethel McKean of Jasper County.  She passed away October 15, 1959 and he was married to Vivian B. Clark on September 39, 1961.

He taught school in Jasper and Clark Counties prior to coming to Olney in 1927 when he was named as principal of Central school.  In 1931 he was named as superintendent of the grade schools in Olney. At the formation of the East Richland Community Unit District No. 1, he was named as assistant superintendent and remained with the system until his retirement in 1952.

He began his ministry in the United Methodist church in the 1940’s and served as pastor at the Zion church near Lawrenceville and also the Flat Rock circuit.  In addition he had served in numerous other charges.  He was also active in the Men’s Class of the First United Methodist church and has served on the church board and other capacities.

Rev. Cramer first attended McKendree College before ordination in the ministry in 1965.

He is survived by his wife, Vivian, one son, Thad M. Cramer of Danville, Ind.; one daughter, Mrs. Erlene Williams of Casey; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one brother, Rolla B. Cramer of Newton and a half sister, Mrs. Lena Cramer of Champaign.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL) – December 30, 1974