Michael Cravotta

We are celebrating the life of Michael Santo Cravotta of Gassville, Arkansas at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 16, 2006 at the Kirby-Boaz Funeral Home chapel with Deacon Bob Crawford officiating. Military Honors will follow by North Central Arkansas Veterans Council with Color Guard by Alley-White American Legion Post #52. Michael S. Cravotta died Sunday morning, September 10, 2006 at Baxter Regional Medical Center at the age of 63. Michael S. Cravotta was born June 27, 1943 in Lyons, New York to Michael Santo and Alice Gordon Cravotta. Mike married Sopis "Joey" Sinthaow on August 18, 1997 in Maesot, Thailand after the death of his first wife, Valerie Cravotta. Michael proudly served in the United States Army and was a United States Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a retired engineer of Kodak after 30 years of employment. He also worked at Newark-Arcadia Volunteer Ambulance in Newark, NY as a paramedic. He moved to Gassville in 1992 and was a realtor/broker for Coldwell Banker Realty. He was the former owner of Bayman Beverage in Cotter, a member of the Ozark RC Flyers Club and a former member of the Gassville City Council. Michael was a member of the V.F.W Post #5742 and a representative for the International Foreign Exchange program. Mike also had a life long love for auto racing. Michael S. Cravotta is survived by his wife, Joey Cravotta of Gassville; two sons, Michael S. Cravotta III and his wife Teri of Little Rock and Peter A. Cravotta and his wife Ladine of Tucson, Arizona; one daughter, Sharon Elizabeth Troutman and her husband Steven of Cotter; mother, Alice Cravotta of Newark, New York; sister, Rita Jane Sparks and her daughter Cathy Arthur of Pennsylvania. He was big brother to Gail Shoots and her husband Richard, and uncle to their children Kathleen and Layton. He loved and adored his grandchildren: Julian Anthony and Dominic Michael Cravotta; Sarah Elizabeth and Kenneth Charles Troutman; Michael R. Harris, Jeremy Paul and Jason Wayne Cravotta. Mike is preceded in death by his father, Michael S. Cravotta; sister, Angela Koester; and first wife, Valerie Cravotta. There was never a stranger he wouldn't talk to or help out. He could walk up to anyone and start a conversation. He was always there to lend a helping hand or to just sit and have a chat. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. Burial will be private. Arrangements are by Kirby-Boaz Funeral Directors. Visit an online obituary and guestbook at www.kirbyboaz.com .