Cody Craven

It is with great sadness that Cody Alan Craven passed away, unexpectedly, on Saturday, July 20, 2024 in Sidney, Neb.

He was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming on Aug. 11, 1958 to Harrison Alan and Dorothy (Phillips) Craven. His dad worked on the ranch outside of Chugwater, Wyo. until Cody was between the ages of one or two year. They then moved to Brighton, where he grew up and graduated from Brighton High School in 1976. Cody then moved to Sterling to attend Northeastern Junior College, graduating in 1978, with an Associate's Degree in Farm Mechanics.

While Cody was attending college, he worked with Steve Stillman, repairing vacuums and small engines. He also sold an occasional vacuum. After graduating college, he started working for Valley Implement, on Sept. 2, 1978. He would've started on Sept. 1, but it was the first day of opening day of dove season!

From 1980 to 1987, Cody was married to his first wife and had two daughters, Lani and Lacey. Cody met his second wife, Diana, in 1989 and they married on May 17, 1991. Diana brought with her to the marriage three more children, Emily, Warren and Jacob, making a total of five children between them.

Cody loved his work, fixing combines, tractors or any sort of farm equipment. Throughout his time at the dealership, there were three different ownership groups, under which he held several different roles. He was a field technician for 34 years, a service manager for seven years, a CTAC Support Specialist for two years and a Certified Dealer Instructor for the last three years. On Sept. 1, 2024, he would have completed his 46th year at the Sterling location. Cody worked with a lot of different people throughout his years with John Deere and had customers all over Northeastern Colorado and Western Nebraska.

In his years, as a trainer, he started with one store, to two stores, to three stores, five stores, to 16, and then soon grew to 26 stores. Cody loved his wrench-pulling years, as well as, his years as a trainer. He couldn't teach people fast enough to suit himself. Cody was always a helping hand to customers and fellow co-workers all hours of the day and night. He was good at getting Diana to do the parts runs and help set up his training classroom until Brent came along. Then he just had Diana cook for him and them. The technicians that came to their classes, he could talk all day about the mechanics of combines and tractors. He built air condition simulators for his classes and tried to make as much as possible for the classes to show the students just what could be accomplished, if you put your mind to it! When he was service manager, he never went to bed until all his technicians were back into the shop or at home. He had Diana cook a meal once a month and transport it to Sterling, just for his technicians, which soon became for the whole store. He cared for all of his technicians and fellow coworkers. They were like a family to him.

Cody belonged to the Haxtun New Hope Church and the Haxtun Gun Club. He loved guns, hunting, fishing, woodworking and building classroom simulators for his students.

He is survived by his loving wife Diana, Haxtun; mother Dorothy Craven, Sterling; brother Calvin and wife Patty Craven, Merino; children Emily and husband Bill Quint, Atwood, Warren Mathewson, Atwood, Jacob 'Jake' Mathewson, Mitchell, S,D., Lani and husband Bill Loeppe, Commerce City, and Lacey Craven, Thornton; 11 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and one on the way; many step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He is also survived by Ashley and Derek, and little Liam; they became grandchildren and a great-grandchild later, but not too late for us. Cody did not like to be called Grandpa, that was his dad, not him. It reminded him of his dad and that made him sad, so he liked to be called Poppy or Papa. Cody and Diana were adopted by many children and great-grandchildren and Cody was called Santa by one and loved them all.

Cody is preceded in death by his father Harrison "Shorty" Craven and his grandparents.

Cody will be fondly remembered for his sense of humor, his great stories, his many lessons and his willingness to help anyone in a time of need. He will be missed greatly by many people!

A celebration of life was held July 30 at the new shop at 21st Century Equipment, Sterling. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Cody Craven Memorial Fund, to be used for a Scholarship at NJC, care of Tennant Funeral Home P.O. Box 1547, Sterling, CO 80751.