James Cranmer

James A. Cranmer, 90, of Great Falls, passed away on Sunday, February 5, 2017 at a local care facility.A celebration of life and burial of ashes will be held at a later date in the Flathead Valley. Service details to follow in the spring. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Schnider Funeral Home.James was born on August 9, 1926 in Eureka, Montana to Porter R. and Jeannetta (Nelson) Cranmer. He attended school in Whitefish, MT.In his early years, James was a car mechanic and sawmill operator. He later became an accountant after he attended Business College. He worked for Charteris Hardware, Dun & Bradstreet, and he retired from post cutting in Lincoln, MT. He met and married the love of his life, Violet V. Wilson on May 18, 1950. They had three daughters.James was a past member of First Baptist Church. He loved music; and played a number of different instruments. He wrote and recorded many songs onto cassettes, mostly gospel, ballads and cowboy songs.He is survived by his wife, Violet V. Cranmer of Great Falls, MT; daughters Dora (Steve) White of Great Falls, MT, Ruth Baker of Lincoln, MT and Grace (Charles) Crowder of LaGrange, GA; sister Sherry Caverly of Bigfork, MT; 8 grandchildren; several great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.James was preceded in death by his parents; sister Maxine Nelson; brother Iven Butch Cranmer; and granddaughter Amanda Baker.