Craig was a precocious child. He was an exceptional piano player, nicknamed “Little Paderewski” by his musically talented father. But Craig only had eyes for sports. He lettered in football, basketball, and tennis. (At 15, when he met Diann Kuhni, he was set to letter in love.) A claim-to-fame he never boasted about was playing on the 1958 Springville Basketball State Championship team. Craig “anchored their championship run.” When he received college scholarship offers for all three of his sports, the final choice was easy for one reason: Diann. Craig knew that presence often matters more than words, so he chose to stay in Provo, close to her–he played tennis for BYU.

Craig and Diann understood that marriage is not about age, it’s about finding the right soul to grow old with. They married on June 2, 1960. They were later sealed in the Manti Temple, a symbol of their desire to raise and maintain an eternal family. As devoted parents, they welcomed seven children over the course of eighteen years. Their goal and top priority perfectly aligned: build a healthy loving Christ-centered home. Craig took his role as provider seriously. After earning an MBA at BYU, he grew into several jobs that required the family to move and ultimately settle on the East Coast. He found a second family at Moog. For years, Craig worked in operations and material management. He was particularly well suited for his role as Raytech CEO because he could see distant things as if they were close and take a distanced view of close things. Later, when leading his own companies, he brought a rare strategic focus to his work, paired with an endless drive to see his visions come to life. Craig simply did not know how to do things halfheartedly.

Over the years, Craig devoted time and energy to fulfill his callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He brought personality and heart to his service–from Corvette slip-stall tests post early-morning seminary to jumping into a pool fully clothed in a suit at a youth activity. And while you’d never hear him say it, he was one of the youngest Patriarchs ever called to serve in the church. For Craig, titles didn’t matter. What matters is the person you become, the impact you make, and how you treat others along the way. He championed the forgotten, the outlier, the neglected, the overlooked, and the exhausted. He naturally tilted toward the underdog. Whether it was a group of marginalized gypsies, teenagers battling a formidable addiction, families on the brink of dissolution, single moms in need of direction, or homeless people in search of hope, he was a friend and a support to all.

Craig knew how to spot need. When an overwhelmed neighbor and friend gave birth to triplets, suddenly facing the chaos of six kids under age seven, he combined his passion for exercise and love of service by taking the triplets on a daily walk. He set a goal in October to walk 100 miles with the babies before Christmas. Not surprisingly, he clocked in the last mile on Christmas Eve. Of course, his service didn’t end there. He continued to quietly show up–a stunning reminder that love is relief.

Craig understood that love is unequivocally a verb. Love is doing, saying, showing. There is no one he served more tirelessly than his family. A gifted father and grandfather, he demonstrated that a parent’s journey requires a steady soothing presence, an unwavering belief, and a shining exemplary lead. He anchored our family with a quiet, unmistakable strength. His fortitude and confidence stemmed from a deep and abiding faith in God.

We were blessed by Craig’s quiet wisdom. He knew that an inspired life lived deliberately outshines a thousand words of advice. Among the countless lessons he taught, here are just a few: you’ve got to learn to love the grind. Life is a school master; don’t be surprised when you’re given tests. Movement is life. There are no stairways to heaven, only fairways! Racquetball provides fast-acting relief–so do Dr. Pepper, unshelled peanuts, and black licorice. (Have we mentioned Craig never met a chocolate chip cookie he didn’t like?) When you build a bond with your grandchildren, you build a brighter tomorrow. There is strength in numbers. He’d happily embrace the title goofball. And he’d swear on a stack of bibles that every problem has a solution inside it. Hydration is overrated; laughter is not. To this day, he has a plaque on his desk that reads Do It Now. Three additional words he lived by: Preserve the relationship. And if you shift your perspective to the eternal, you shift your reality. Dad, you shifted our reality into something infinitely better and brighter. And proved time and again that a Father’s presence alone is enough. We couldn’t love you more, Dad.

Dedication of the Grave:

Friday, November 13th at 3:00 p.m.

Provo Cemetery

610 S. State Street

Provo, UT 84606

Funeral Service:

Friday, November 13th at 5:30 p.m.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

2400 N. 1060 E.

Provo, UT 84604

Join Zoom Meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85335946776

Meeting ID: 853 3594 6776

Passcode: 073301

In lieu of flowers, Craig would love for you to play a round of golf with someone who comes to mind, forgive a debt, donate to a cause, and by all means, eat a quality hot dog. Because he was a total baller on and off the court, you may consider donating to a non-profit named A Ball for All at aballforall.com. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.LawrenceFuneralHome.com