Robert Earl Craig

Robert Earl Craig, resident of the Somerville Community, retired welder, United States Veteran and husband of the late Betty Jo Denton Craig departed this life Thursday afternoon, December 12, 2013 at the St. Francis Hospital in Bartlett where he had been a patient for one day. He was 75 years of age and died following an extended illness.

Services of Remembrance for Mr. Craig were conducted at 2 P.M. Sunday, December 15th at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Bro. Arlen House of the Highway Holiness Church in Southaven, Mississippi officiating. He was assisted by Bro. Drew Murphy of the Fayette Baptist Church in Somerville. Interment with Military Honors followed in the Fayette County Memorial Park Cemetery on Highway 64. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center — West Chapel at Oakland.

Mr. Craig was born November 4, 1938 in Grant, Alabama. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hubert Craig and Betty Jones Craig. He received his education in the Grant, Alabama Public School System and was married December 21, 1962 to the former Betty Jo Denton. Mrs. Craig was employed in the bakery department of the Kroger Corporation for many years before her retirement and died June 26, 2013.

Mr. Craig served his country in the United States Army as a young person and was employed for much of his life as a welder. In earlier years he was employed as a welder for the Chicago Bridge and Iron Company and later was employed a welder for the Plant Maintenance Corporation before his retirement in 2003. He was a former resident of Bartlett before moving to Fayette County. He was a resident of the Oakland Community for 18 years before moving to the Somerville Community in 2004.

Mr. Craig will be remembered as a Christian and devoted to his church. Reading his Bible and prayer study were an important part of Mr. Craig’s life. He was an avid student of history and enjoyed fishing and antique vehicles. A family-oriented person, Mr. Craig was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.

Mr. Craig is survived by his daughter, Jennifer Craig Pickard of Somerville; his sister, Francis Rigsby of Huntsville, AL; his brother, Charles Craig of Grant, AL; two grandsons, Cody Craig, Robbie Pickard; and his great granddaughter, Rayna Craig. He was preceded in death by three sisters and five brothers.

Those honored to serve as casketbearers were Derrick May, Tim Neal, Timmy Natthews, Darrell Denton, Dion Denton and Tim Neal.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Shelby County Chapter of the American Heart Association, 2170 Business Center Drive, Suite 1, Bartlett, TN 38134.