John Jacob Crane

John Jacob Crane, 92, of Symonds Hill Road, Addison, passed away at home on Sunday, July 13, 2025 following a lengthy illness.
John was born on May 22, 1933 in Cameron, NY, the son of the late Harry and Carrie Dorr Crane. John was raised on Symonds Hill in Borden and made it his lifelong home. His maternal grandparents had a farm there and John spent a lot of time with his grandparents.
John attended schools in Addison and was a 1949 graduate of Addison High School. After graduating from high school, John enlisted in the US Army, serving from 1950 until 1954. He was stationed in Europe and was involved with military intelligence, particularly in monitoring activity in post World War II Germany. While in the Army, John participated in competitive boxing and earned a golden gloves championship.
After John left the military, he was employed by Otis Eastern Corp., with involvement of oil and gas well emergencies. On August 24, 1957, John married the former Norma B Rushmore at the Borden Baptist Church. Norma preceded him in death on February 3, 2017. At this time, John decided he needed employment close to home without the dangers of his previous job at Otis Eastern. He applied for work at the Ingersoll Rand Co in Painted Post and was hired on the spot and actually began work the same day.
John stayed with Ingersoll Rand until 1969 when he created his own machining business on his farm in Borden. He built what was then Cranco Products into a thriving machine shop supporting many employees. He purchased a property in Addison where he expanded his businesses into farm machinery sales and service becoming a franchised Heston Farm Implement dealer which was named HES Inc. As local farming activity declined, John sold his Addison property and moved all of his business back to his farm where he continued his custom machining work for many more years.
John and Norma attended the Osceola Presbyterian Church for many years where John sang in the church choir with his deep baritone voice. He was a longtime Grange member and sold Grange Insurance.
John is survived by his daughters, Judy McCarrick, Deborah Bacon, Paula Spencer and Sheila (Jack) Thompson, all of Addison, his sons, Ron (Wanda) Bacon of Painted Post, Philip (Joanie) Bacon of Corning, James (Danielle) Spotts of Unicoi, TN and Danny Bostwick, 24 grandchildren, many great grandchildren his sisters, Linda Dubois of Bath and Kathy (Jim) Hamblin of Rathbone, his sister-in-law, Jan Crane of Bath and several nieces and nephews.
Besides his wife Norma, John was predeceased by his children, Christopher Crane, Alicia Crane, Charles Woughter and Leslie Woughter, his granddaughter, Lora Spencer, his grandson, John McCarrick, his brothers, Dorr Crane and Franklin Crane. and his sons-in-law, Gordon McCarrick and Roy Bacon.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 19 at 11 am at the First Presbyterian Church of Addison with Rev. Peter Marr officiating. Burial will follow in Elk Creek Cemetery, Borden, NY.
Arrangements are in care of the H.P. Smith & Son Funeral Home in Woodhull.