Sumner Bowers Cragin, Jr., 96, of Friendswood, Texas, formerly of La Marque, Texas, passed away on May 14th, 2026. Sumner was born on July 31st, 1929, in Midland, Texas, to Sumner Bowers Cragin, Sr., and Charlotte B. Richardson.

Sumner was a proud Navy veteran, a member of La Marque Kiwanis, Texas City – La Marque Chamber of Commerce, and a member of Friendswood Methodist Church. His youth was spent mainly in Greenbelt, Maryland, where he excelled as an athlete lettering in soccer, baseball and basketball in high school. He was the captain, leading scorer and first team All State performer for the state champion Greenbelt Grizzlies in 1947. He accepted a basketball scholarship from TCU and headed back to his native Texas. He was only able to be away from Carol, the love of his life, for one year and moved back to Maryland to be with her and finish his education at the University of Maryland. After college and the Navy, he went to work managing his father’s oilfield lumber yard in Robert Lee, TX. He then joined Sears Roebuck and moved up the ranks swiftly to become their youngest store manager ever when he took over the Galveston store and moved his family to La Marque, TX. Like his father and grandfather before him, Sumner was a serial entrepreneur. He sold his Sears stock and bought a small clothing store in La Marque and grew it into six stores around Galveston County. He and Scott decided to try their hand at the restaurant business and eventually owned and operated seven restaurants in the area. When Scott bought Café Adobe, Mr. Cragin, as everyone called him, became the purchasing agent for the restaurants and filled that role until he was 83 years old. Sumner was a dedicated husband. He was Carol’s primary caretaker during her long sad journey with Alzheimer’s; he never wavered and never complained. He was a loving strong partner to Carol raising their three “perfect” children. He loved, cherished and was overtly proud of all his grandchildren and was always excited when another great grandchild joined the fold. His family and friends and the many people he has mentored along the way are going to miss his sage advice, his strong opinions and his easy laugh.

He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 62 years, Carol Cragin; his parents, Sumner Cragin Sr., Francis Cragin (step mother), Charlotte Hawk and E. Paul Hawk (step father), and his son, Scott Cragin.

Sumner is survived by his daughter, Linda Cragin. His son, Michael Cragin (Joyce). His nine grandchildren, Taylor Cragin (Chelsea), Connor Cragin, Garrett Cragin (Mandy), Cole Cragin (Kristen), Rachel Frame (Alex), Sarah Hsu (Jeremy), Mike Cragin (Aidan), Madison Fairchild (Colton), and Jake Hayes (Natalie). He is also survived by 10 great-grandchildren with 4 more on the way.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 on 27th day, May, 2026 at Crowder Funeral Home 2422 E. Broadway St., Pearland, Texas 77581 and there will be a lunch reception afterwards at Golfcrest Country Club.