Father Bernard “Leo” Craycroft, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Louisville, died on June 30 after 64 years of priesthood. He was 93.
Father Craycroft, a native of New Haven, Ky., was ordained a priest on May 25, 1957.
He served as pastor of Christ the King Church and St. Christopher Church in Radcliff, Ky.
He served as associate pastor of St. Matthias and St. Athanasius churches. He served as a chaplain for Ormsby Village Treatment Center.
He also served at the Kentucky State Reception Center, Kentucky Children’s Home, Children’s Center, and South Fields for nine years.
He taught religion part-time at Flaget High School and Ursuline Academy.
After retiring in 1998, he volunteered in Appalachia for two weeks each year for eight years. He also offered supply help at many rural parishes over a 10-year period.
He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, served in the United States Navy from 1946-1948 as a Yeoman 3rd Class and completed Scripture studies in Jerusalem in 1976.
He is survived by his sister, Josephine Blandford, and his brother Ed (Mary Ann), sister-in-law, Angela and forty-three nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be at Nelson-Edelen-Bennett Funeral Home in Radcliff, 2072 S. Dixie Boulevard, on July 5 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. A prayer service will begin at 7 p.m. Visitation will take place at St. Christopher Church in Radcliff from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. July 6 with the Mass of Christian Burial immediately following. Private burial will be at St. Catherine Cemetery in New Haven, Ky.
