Date of death: 6/30/2021
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1957
Reverend Bernard Leo Craycroft, “Father Leo”, passed away peacefully at his home in Radcliff, KY at the age of 93 on June 30, 2021.
Father Leo was born on February 25, 1928 in New Haven, KY, the fifth of ten children. His parents, George Hix and Mary Josephine (Hagan) Craycroft, preceded him in death. Siblings and in-laws who preceded him in death were William F. (Barbara); Sister Rose Marie, OSU; Rev. George P.; Gerald (Cecilia); James; Joe Paul (Mary Helen); Mary Lois Gahlinger (Jim); Bill Blandford; nephew, John Blandford; and niece, Jean Craycroft.
He is survived by his sister, Josephine Blandford and his brother Ed (Mary Ann), and sister-in-law, Angela, along with forty-three nieces and nephews.
He was baptized, attended elementary and high school at St. Catherine Church in New Haven. He served in the U. S. Navy as seaman 3rd class from June, 1946 to July, 1948. After attending St. Mary’s College and St. Meinrad Seminary from 1949-1957, he was ordained a priest on May 25, 1957.
Fr. Craycroft served as associate pastor at St. Matthias and St. Athanasius and taught religion part-time at Flaget High School and Ursuline Academy before serving as catholic chaplain at Ormsby Village Treatment Center for nine years. He was pastor at Christ The King Church in Louisville from 1976-1983. Subsequently, he was assigned as pastor of St. Christopher Church in Radcliff, KY until he retired in 1998. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and spent his retirement years at his home in Radcliff playing golf, fishing, and substituting for other priests around the archdioceses, especially in rural areas, by saying Mass.