Arthur J. Craven, brilliant lawyer, a student of life's deeper problems and a keen lover of nature, died at 3:15 this morning at St. Joseph hospital, where he had been a patient for two and one-half months. Mr. Craven was 67 years of age and during his twenty-four years' residence in Bellingham had made many warm friends. He was held in high esteem by the members of the Whatcom County Bar association, of which he was a member, and by the membership of the other organizations to which he belonged - Fairhaven lodge, No. 73, F. & A. M.; the Twentieth Century club, the Hobby club, the Mt. Baker club, and Service Camp, No. 371, Woodmen of the World. Mr. Craven also was a member of the library board at the time of his death.
Mr. Craven is survived by his widow, Mrs. Emily K. Craven 310 Pine street; two sons, Leslie Craven, a Chicago attorney, who visited his father here a short time ago, and Wilson Craven, a student at the Leland Stanford university when he was called home by his father's illness; one daughter, Miss Margaret Craven, of San Jose, Calif., and four brothers, Edwin Craven, Seattle; Herman W. Craven and Alfred Craven, of Washington, D. C., and R. C. Craven, of Omaha, Neb. Private funeral services for the immediate family only will be held at Arthur C. Harlow's mortuary on Saturday, after which the officers and members of Fairhaven lodge, No. 73, F. & A. M. will meet at the Masonic temple at 2:30 p. m., and go to the Harlow mortuary, where they will join the funeral cortege, leaving for Bay View cemetery at 3 p. m. At the graveside Masonic honors will be given. Friends are asked to omit flowers.
Mr. Craven was one of Bellingham's most sterling citizens and his high qualities were widely recognized and universally admired. Though brilliant, he was unassuming. He was a genial companion and one who looked on life and its multiform problems philosophically and sympathetically. His love of nature was intense. This affection drew him often to the mountains and he was one of the best posted men in Bellingham on the Mount Baker district. His last outing there was made in the summer of 1924.
Arthur J. Craven was born on December 12, 1857, at Madison, Ind. With four brothers he graduated from the University of Iowa and during his university days won many honors in oratory. He was a member of the Tau Delta Tau fraternity. Mr. Craven was admitted to the bar at Newton, Ohio, in 1882, and began the practice of law in Montana, where he also was active in political affairs of the state. He was a member of the constitutional convention of Montana, of which Senator W. A. Clark was chairman. Mr. Craven is the third member of that convention to die within the last two months. He was a member of the Montana legislature in 1895 and 1896. He came to Bellingham from Helena, Mont., in 1901, and had made his residence in Bellingham since that time.
One of the warmest tributes paid Mr. Craven was voiced today by Will D. Pratt, president of the Mount Baker club, who recalls that Mr. Craven was one of the prime movers in the club's organization, and one of its most valued members. He always took a hearty interest in the club's affairs and on all outings to the Mount Baker region he could always be relied upon to provide entertainment at the evening campfires. Sometimes he recited a poem and again he related stories. Mr. Craven was a poet of ability himself, his compositions usually being lofty in theme and frequently descriptive of nature or her moods. Many of his poems were inspired by his ramblings in the mountains. His thoughts were well phrased. Mr. Pratt says that he seemed to be well informed on all subjects, but he was never a poser and discussed everything calmly and without affectation. His conversations were always informative and interesting and those who knew him best highly valued his friendship, his companionship qualities and his other sterling characteristics.
