Wanda Jean Craft

Memorial Service for Wanda Jean Craft, of Plains, will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at Plains First Baptist Church with Rev. Glenn Harlin and Rev. Patrick Hamilton officiating. Burial will be held prior to the service at 10:00 am at Plains Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at Brownfield Funeral Home.

Jean was born on September 5, 1934, to Alton and Nola Womack Parker in Peacock, Texas. She went home to be with her Lord on July 31, 2025, at the age of 90.

A standout athlete during her high school career, Jean graduated from Peacock High School and briefly attended Tarleton State College. From childhood, she shared a friendship with fellow peafowl, Billie Gayle Craft, that blossomed into love. On October 16, 1954, they were married at Peacock First Baptist Church. Together, Gayle and Jean built a life filled with devotion, adventure, and companionship, sharing sixty cherished years until his passing in 2014.

Jean worked alongside Gayle, first at the cotton gin in Peacock and later in Plains, where they relocated their family in 1959. She skillfully managed the books and negotiated the buying and selling of cotton, earning a reputation for her sharp mind and strong work ethic. Jean continued to visit the gin office nearly every day until just a few months before her passing.

Beyond her devotion to family, Jean was celebrated for her adventurous spirit, snappy fashion sense, and zest for life. She found joy in golf and fishing, delighting in the beauty of the great outdoors with Gayle and their friends. A devoted supporter of Plains Cowboy and Cowgirl athletics, she was a familiar presence in the stands, cheering enthusiastically beside her dear friend, Latrell. Her quick wit and generous heart brought light and laughter to all who knew her. Above all, Jean’s steadfast faith in Jesus Christ was the foundation of her life and the guiding force behind all she held dear.

Jean was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Gayle Craft; her parents, Alton and Nola Parker; brothers Alton B. Parker Jr. and Roy Harold Parker. She is survived by her son Kevin Ron (Kim) Craft; daughter, Ronda Gayle (Donnie) Maines; sister, Linda Sue (Gary) Smith; 5 grandchildren, Landon (Mackenzie) Craft, Brandon (Ashlyn) Craft, Chad (Rhonda) Maines, Casey (Sara) Maines, and Carlie (Tyson) Sterling; and 13 great-grandchildren.

A video recording of Jean's memorial service may be viewed on the First Baptist Church YouTube channel by clicking here.