March 22, 1940 – September 15, 2024
Lawton, OK
The funeral Mass for Terrie Kraft will be at noon. Wednesday, September 25, 2024, in Holy Family Catholic Church with Rev. Philip Seeton, Pastor officiating.
Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery under the direction of Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.
The family will greet friends from 6-8 pm on Tuesday at the funeral home.
Terrie Kraft, loving and adored wife and mother of three children passed away on Sunday, September 15, 2024, at the age 84, in Lawton Oklahoma. She was born March 22, 1940, in Bronx, New York to Charles and Dorothy (Baker) Sullivan. Terrie grew up in New Jersey and was a graduate of St. Aloysius High School. After finishing high school, Terrie attended and graduated from business school and worked for AT&T and Sperry & Hutchison Corp. on 5th Avenue in Manhattan.
Terrie’s father, Charles, worked at Saint Peters College as a Chef, and in 1962 he gave one of the Jesuit Priests he worked with, a photograph of his daughter and asked the priest to see if there were any ROTC Cadets without a date for the upcoming Military Ball. The priest was aware of a good candidate, however, he felt that it was prudent to “test the water” before attending the Ball so he arranged for a blind date to see if the pair was a good match. The blind date went well, so did the Ball, and shortly after that, on February 9, 1963, Terrie was married to Donald Kraft in Little Falls, New Jersey; the couple was inseparable from that point on. In 2024, Terrie and Don celebrated 62 years of marriage.
Terrie loved to cook, and she learned much about it from her father who was an accomplished Chef. She loved preparing meals for her family and friends, and she frequently cooked for events at the church or for people who were sick or having a hard time. She was also an accomplished seamstress and for many years she made clothing for her kids, and later for her grandchildren. Terrie frequently talked about her favorite memories from the time Don and the family were stationed in Germany from 1971 to 1975. The family extensively toured Europe in their tow-behind trailer, visiting a variety of countries including Spain, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, with London being one of their key stops.
During her time in Germany, Terrie undertook a concentrated dental assistant’s course given at Ramstein AFB and successful completion of the program launched her into what would become a 32-year civil service career that saw her rise to the position of Oral Surgery Assistant at Reynolds. Terrie enjoyed helping the young soldiers that she worked with during her time at Fort Sill and she would frequently host dinners for them at her home in Lawton; this pattern of giving and doing for others was always a theme in Terrie’s life. When Don’s parents began to have difficulties, she insisted on caring for them and she did so for eight years until additional nursing was required. Terrie also was the principal caregiver for her longtime and very dear family friend, Marie Webb
Terrie also loved to dance; Don and Terry were members of several dance clubs throughout the years. She also enjoyed the Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra and was a supporter for many years. Terrie was an avid aphaeresis blood donator who could be found visiting with community members during her frequent trips to donate blood.
She is survived by her husband, MAJ (Retired) Donald Q. Kraft; three children, Mark Kraft, Stephanie Meaders and her husband Daniel Schwartz, and Donny Kraft; five grandchildren, Kellan Meaders, Juliana Meaders, Mathew Meaders, Tannon Meaders, and Khloě Tipton; and her sister Kathleen Miranda.
Terrie was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Richard, a sister, Maureen, and a daughter-in-law, Veronica Kraft.
