SIKESTON -- Francis Gilbert "Gib" Hutchcraft, 76, of Sikeston died Wednesday, Sept. 30, 1998, at Clearview Nursing Center.

He was born April 5, 1922, in Hamilton County, Ill., son of Martin Luther and Mary Elsa Learned Hutchcraft. He and Naomi J. Kelso were married July 19, 1947, in Morganfield, Ky.

Hutchcraft was a service engineer with Potlatch Co. He moved to Sikeston in 1964 from Atlanta, Ga. He was a member of a Masonic Lodge in Illinois.

He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Gilbert Hutchcraft of Benton, Ill.; two daughters, Mary Bowden of Springtown, Texas, Carol Towe of Sikeston; a brother, Phillip Hutchcraft of Girard, Kan.; 11 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two brothers and a sister.

Friends may call at Blanchard Funeral Chapel in Sikeston from 5-8 p.m. today, and at Gholson Funeral Home in Dahlgren, Ill., from 5-8 p.m. Saturday. Masonic rites will be Saturday at 7:30.

Graveside service will be at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Richardson Hill Cemetery in Dahlgren. Officiating will be Bobby Bowden, a son-in-law. Full military rites will be conducted by American Legion Post 106 of McLeansboro, Ill.