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Obituary:
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Jarod Keith Cravens,
age 32, of Providence Village, Texas, died Saturday, October
29, 2011 as the result of injuries sustained when a suicide
car bomber attacked the armored personnel carrier in which
he was traveling in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Jarod enlisted in
the United States Marine Corps, after graduating from Cedar
Hill High School in 1998 and served his country proudly
until his honorable discharge in 2006. During his years of
service, Jarod earned a number of honors including the Navy
Commendation Medal in 2002. He was awarded this medal in
recognition of the decisive and immediate action Jarod took
in saving the life of a young boy who was drowning in a pool
near the home Jarod shared with his family while he was
stationed in San Diego, California. At the time of his
death, Jarod was working for Fluor Corporation in Kabul,
Afghanistan as part of their work with the U.S. Army’s
Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP) IV. By
providing contractor support and logistics work for U.S.
military troops stationed in Afghanistan, Jarod felt as
though he was able to continue giving himself to the fight
for freedom he believed in so strongly, while also providing
for the family he adored.
A lover of life, Jarod was
always in search of the next great adventure. The thing he
loved, second only to his family, was spending time with
them making memories. He did just that when he spent the two
weeks prior to his death at home enjoying such things with
them as trips to the State Fair of Texas, Six Flags Over
Texas, game 4 of the World Series, an obstacle course
endurance race, and the list goes on. The gift of those
memories is priceless and will be treasured and remembered
always. Jarod, until we meet again…Semper Fi!
Jarod
leaves to forever cherish his memory , his beloved wife,
Stephanie and two precious children, Brady and Samantha
Cravens of Providence Village, mother, Sandra McGill and
husband Robert of Ovilla, Texas, father, Gary Cravens and
wife Ann of Greenville, Texas, sister Julie Jolley and
husband Chad of Plano, Texas, brother Jake Cravens of Plano,
Texas, uncle, Mark Hixon and wife Gaye of Sanger, Texas,
uncle, Kent Cravens of Bakersfield, California and numerous
other family members and friends. Jarod was preceded in
death by maternal grandparents, Jack “Pa Jack” and Sue “Mimi
Sue” Hixon from Burleson, Texas and paternal grandparents,
Kenneth “Pa Ken” Cravens of Shawnee, Oklahoma and Winona
“Mimi Noni” Cravens, of Holdenville, Oklahoma.
In lieu of
flowers, family requests that donations be made at, or
mailed to any Chase Bank branch, payable to the “Jarod
Cravens Donation Account.” Donated funds will be used for
the ongoing care of the lights of his life…his kids, Brady
and Sammie.
Funeral service will be held at the Dallas
Baptist University Chapel, Thursday, November 10, 2011 at
2:00 p.m. Due to parking limitations, and the need to
shuttle attendees from parking locations, please arrive at 1
p.m. to allow adequate time for everyone to be seated before
service begins. Private interment immediately following
ceremony at DFW National Cemetery.
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