JAMES M CRANE

James Morgan “Jim” Crane, 78 of Canton, Missouri passed into eternity on May 15, 2026.
The oldest of 8 children, Jim was born September 26, 1947, in Quincy, Ill. He is the son of Morgan H. Crane and Georgia Johnson Crane.
Jim attended primary school in Warren, Mo. He graduated from Monroe City (Mo.) High School in 1965 with plans to attend USAF Academy. When Jim was selected as first alternate for the academy, his post high school education took him to Missouri School of Mines in Rolla, Mo.
Jim was a veteran of the US Army having served from 1969 through the Fall of 1971, 16 months of which was spent in Korea. Upon his honorable discharge, he finished his secondary education through Northeast Missouri State College in Kirksville, Mo. His 1975 graduation led to his employment with the accounting firm Wade, Stables, Schanbacher and Walker in Hanibal, Mo., for the next three years.
In 1978 Jim was offered and accepted the position of Chief Financial Officer for Ayers Oil Co. in Canton, Mo., a position he held for 34 ½ years until his retirement.
Jim married Linda Byrnes of Hannibal, Mo., and together had two sons, James Michael Crane and Christopher David Crane. He later married Becky Ann Hunziker of Kahoka, Mo., who preceded him in death.
Jim enjoyed his labs and retrievers he had over the years who accompanied him in pursuing his love for the outdoors through deer hunting, duck hunting, pheasant and quail hunting, fishing, and gardening.
Jim was active with the Clark County Fair for over 40 years, Ducks Unlimited, and many benefit events throughout his life. Jim also had a kinship to vehicles from the muscle car era spending several years post-retirement traveling the US and into Mexico.
He is survived by a son, James Michael Crane (Bethalto, Ill.), two grandchildren, Morgan Marie and James Cooper (Bethalto, Ill.), one brother George (Patty) Crane (Palmyra, Mo.), one sister Phyllis Crane (St Louis, Mo.), and several nieces and nephews.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, wife, a son Christopher David (Canton, Mo.), and five of his siblings; Betty Key (Atlanta, Ga.), Connie Wolf (Canton, Mo.), Joyce Bock (Palmyra, Mo.), Geraldine Baker (Palmyra, Mo.), and Emmett Crane (Utah).
Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Arnold’s Funeral Home in Canton, Missouri with Rev. Steve Jarvis officiating. Burial with Military Honors by Boots-Dixon Post 174 will be Sunday, June 7, 2026 at 1:00 PM at the Warren Cemetery in rural Monroe City, Missouri.
A Celebration of Life to visit with friend and family will be held Saturday, June 6, 2026 beginning at 12:00 noon at the Canton Eagles Club.
Pallbearers: Brent Bock, Shane Decker, Josh Crane, Clay Baker, Jeremy Crane and Darin Wilson. Honorary Pallbearers: Dan Daughtry, Lynn Daughtry, Jim Hamilton, Dan Shirey, Kent Logsdon, Richard Knee, Wade Poulter, Dan Schutte, Jim Buckwalter, Rod Clausen, Heather Hinton, Adell Patterson, Stephanie Phillips and Steve Phillips (In Memoriam).
Arrangements made at Arnold’s Funeral Home.