Junior F. Crites, 86, of Edwardsville, passed away on Friday, June 20 at St. Louis University Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri.

He was born April, 14 1928 in Greenbriar, Missouri, the son of the late Horace and Dova Crites nee Cato. Junior married Helen Crites nee Woodfin.

Junior proudly served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He retired as a furnace operator from Granite City Steel. He was avid hunter and fisherman.

He is survived by wife Helen Crites, son Steve (Sandy) Crites of Granite City, son Leland (Donna) Crites of Granite City, daughter Sharon (James) Richee of Highland, daughter Teresa (James) Demontmollen of Bethalto, sister Norma Isac of Puxeco, Missouri, sister Emma Price St. Louis Missouri, nine grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Junior was preceded in death by brothers Ernest, Woodrow and Elman and sisters Mildred Fee, Ilean Welch, Azalee Lemon and Vivian Haskell.

Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, June 24 at Sunset Hill Funeral Home in Glen Carbon, Ill.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, June 25 at Center Grove Presbyterian Church in Edwardsville. Rev. Tony Casoria will be officiating.

Memorials can be made to Center Grove Presbyterian Church or the American Cancer Society.

Interment will be at Sunset Hill Memorial Estates in Glen Carbon. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.herrfuneral.com or www.sunsethillcemetery.com.