Carl Edward “Cricket” Searls, 89, of Middleport, Ohio, passed away at the Imogene Dolan Hospice House in Huntington on Friday, Dec. 9, 2011. He was born on Jan. 25, 1922, to the late Hod and Margaret (Fife) Searls. Mr. Searls was a World War II veteran and a lifetime member of the Middleport American Legion Post, Feeney- Bennett. Mr. Searls also retired from the AEP, Philip Sporn Pant. where he worked in maintenance.

He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Eileen Searls; daughters, Calista Searls, and Myrna (Jerry) Custer; son, Keith Edward Searls; grandchildren, Amy (Bill) Purkey, Debby (Jacob) Davis, David (Theresa) Custer, and Aleasha (Tim) Wells of Missouri; ten great-grandchildren; sister, Catherine Burton; and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Charles “Fats” Searles, Kenneth “Toad” Searles; sisters, Marie VanCooney and Bernice Searls.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 12, 2011 at the Anderson McDaniel Funeral Home in Middleport, Ohio. Burial will follow at the Gravel Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral service. Military graveside rites will be conducted by Feeney-Bennett American Legion Post in Middleport, Ohio. An on-line registry is available by logging onto www.andersonmcdaniel.com.