JOHN C. CRAIG
December 19, 1944 - July 12, 2022
After a long illness, John Clifford Craig passed away at Methodist Hospital in the Houston Medical Center on the morning of Tuesday, the 12th of July 2022. He fought a courageous fight against pulmonary fibroses remaining strong and positive to the very end.
John was born in Clarksburg, West Virginia on the 19th of December 1944, to Catherine Calore Clifford Craig and James Bruce Craig. The family moved from Clarksburg to Washington DC. From there they moved to Corpus Christi, Texas where John first fell in love with Texas. Another move to Tulsa, Oklahoma had John Attending Cascia Hall Preparatory School. He then went to Brown University. John served in the Navy from November of 1970 to June of 1974. During that time, he attended the Defense Language Training Institute in Monterrey, California and was later stationed in Homestead and Key West, Florida. Being a very good shot, while serving he was captain of the Navy Competition Pistol Team. After he was discharged from the Navy, he attended the University of Texas at Austin.
Returning to Houston after the Navy, John married Nancy Collins Craig in 1975. After the children started school and as soon as they were able to play sports, it was all sports all the time. John coached older son George’s West University baseball team for a number of years. He also attended daughter Ginny’s softball and soccer games and Cliff ’s football games nonstop! John always loved to share his passion for cooking and serving great food with friends, family and his grandchildren.
In 1979, John cofounded Craig, Sheffield & Austin, Inc., which specializes in water and sewer treatment and is now CSA Construction, Inc. His hard work and longstanding relationships stand as a testament to his legacy. CSA is still a well-respected contractor today. He had many loyal and long tenured employees that he loved, mentored and thought of as family, many of which are still at CSA today. John’s two sons are continuing his legacy at CSA after his retirement. John was a very proud father!
John was at home in the outdoors. Whether it be running bird dogs in South Texas or wade fishing the shallow waters along the Texas coast, chances were you would find him there entertaining his family, friends and coworkers. It is an understatement to say his passion was hunting and fishing in North and South America. However, he traveled the world and experiencing the culture and history of the places he went was just as important to him as the activity. A favorite trip was to lead friends to Buenos Aires for a few days of shopping, then into the wine country and finishing with dove and duck back country hunting in Argentina. He was known for his humor, campfire stories, jokes and ability to quickly make a friend…..even quicker if you brought the Macallan Scotch or were from McAllen, Texas. John was before his time in that he was always mindful of taking care of the environment, whether he was working or hunting or fishing. Most times, he either returned his catch to the water or shared it with friends, family and those helping with his fishing trip. His birds were favorite fare for that same group.
Over and above his passion for hunting and fishing was his love for his family. John and Nancy were loving partners for 46 years. They shared a wonderful life filled with travel, delicious dinners, friends and most importantly their children and grandchildren.
John is preceded in death by his parents, Katy and Bruce. John is survived by his wife of 46 years, Nancy Collins Craig; his sons, George Collins Craig (Julia), John Clifford Craig Jr. (Leslie); and his daughter, Mary Virginia “Ginny” Craig. He is also survived by his brother, George Bruce Craig of Corpus Christi; his nephews, Philip C Craig and J Stewart Craig (Claire); and his brother-inlaw, James Collins (Kathy) of McAllen. John was always “Papa” to his beloved grandchildren – four granddaughters Charlotte “Char,” Emily, Lizzet, Michelle and one grandson, Wyatt. One more is on the way.
John received the most incredible care from his doctors and nurses in Walter Tower on the 19th floor of Methodist Hospital Medical Center. The nurses are too numerous to mention, but he would want to say a special thank you to Amilcar and Alana and his Respiratory Therapist Kavitha. Also a special thank you to Dr. Shah and Dr. Nguyen.
A memorial service is to be conducted at a later date.
Please visit John’s online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com where fond memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with his family.