Milton E. "Red" Craighead

Funeral services celebrating the life of Mr. Milton E. (Red) Craighead, 86, of Calhoun, LA will be held at 10:30 A.M., Saturday, February 25, 2017 in the chapel of Mulhearn Funeral Home in West Monroe, LA. Rev. Neil Everett and Rev. Chris Craighead, Jr. will be officiating. Mr. Craighead passed away peacefully on February 21, 2017 at Princeton Place in Ruston, LA. Interment will be in Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery in Monroe, LA.

Red was born in Swartz, LA on July 22, 1930 to Cecil and Joyce Nolan Craighead. He graduated as class valedictorian from Start High School in 1947 and attended LSU, where he played football his freshman year. He transferred to Northeast Louisiana State College to pursue a degree and continue his athletics. Red became one of Coach Jim Malone’s boys, along with his brothers who played football for Northeast.

He was senior class president of the 1st graduating class of Northeast Louisiana State College in 1953, receiving a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture. He served in the United States Army in the Military Police as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was a 32nd degree Mason with the R. F. McGuire Masonic Lodge and a member of the Barak Shrine Temple of Monroe. He was a founding member of Lake D’Arbonne Country Club and served as its treasurer. He was also a member of Pine Hills Country Club. Red was a member of Start Baptist Church and attended First Baptist Church in Calhoun. He was honored to be part of the group of men who built The D’Arbonne Chapel on Lake D’Arbonne in 1973. Red enjoyed the outdoors especially deer hunting and fishing. He got great pleasure attending his grandkids sporting events and activities.

His professional career began with the State of Louisiana as a Sanitation Inspector. He then worked for Commercial Credit as a collector in Alexandria, and next worked as a Loan Officer in the Monroe Office. Red was hired as the Manager of Frostkraft Federal Credit Union in 1956, which later became Forest Kraft and today is known as Centric. He retired as Chief Executive Officer of Forest Kraft Federal Credit Union in 1992. Upon his retirement, he wrote Forest Kraft a check that covered his loan losses during his tenure. Forest Kraft’s Board of Directors refused to accept the funds.

The National Credit Union Managers Association recognized Forest Kraft as “The Best Performance of All Credit Unions for 1989”. In 2011, the Louisiana Credit Union League recognized his service to members by his induction into the Louisiana Credit Union Hall of Fame. Centric is what it is today because of his leadership and stewardship during his professional career. He valued his staff and colleagues who worked at the credit union as well as for the paper mill in West Monroe. His family would like to thank Frieda Massingale, his Assistant Manager at Forest Kraft for her friendship and supporting Red for over 40 years.

Red was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Doyle and Robert Craighead; and his granddaughter, Caroline Craighead.

Survivors: his wife of 63 years, Beverly Rogers Craighead; sons, Roger Craighead and wife, Becky and Chris Craighead and wife, Debra; grandchildren, Nickolas Craighead and wife, Allison, Rev. Chris Craighead, Jr. and wife, Gaelin, Bailey Ann Craighead and Joseph Craighead; great grandchild, Canaan Craighead; sister-in-law, Sue Craighead; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Nickolas Craighead, Rev. Chris Craighead, Jr., Joseph Craighead, Sammy Kay Nolan, Bobby Craighead and Ron Craighead.

Visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Friday at Mulhearn Funeral Home in West Monroe, LA.

Memorials may be made to the Centric B-C Scholarship Fund in memory of his granddaughter, Caroline or to your favorite charity. Special thanks go to the caring staff at Princeton Place in Ruston.