Carl D. Craig

Carl Craig, 93 of Independence, passed away at 8:00 a.m., Thursday, February 16, 2023 at the Morningstar Care Home in Neodesha, Kansas.

Carl Denzil Craig was born January 4, 1930 on Craig Ranch in rural Meade County, Kansas to Orval and Julia (Tackitt) Craig.  He grew up and attended country schools in Meade County and graduated from Meade High School in 1948.  Carl attended the Bethany Nazarene College in Bethany, Oklahoma.  In 1950, Carl joined the United States Navy serving as a radioman aboard the USS Sanborn throughout the South Pacific during the Korean War until his discharge in 1954.  Carl then returned to Bethany where he received his bachelor's degree in music education and taught band in public schools for eight years.  Carl later received a master's degree and became a principal and school administrator in Junction City, Kansas from 1963 to 1973.  In 1973, feeling a call to ministry, Carl moved his family to Newton, Kansas where he became the Associate Pastor of the Church of the Nazarene.  He also began a course of study for ministry.   Always a music lover, Carl and his wife, Ruth, led the K-NETS and Impact Youth Choirs on the Kansas District Church of the Nazarene for 10 years.  In 1979, Carl was ordained an Elder in the Church of the Nazarene.  In 1980, Carl and Ruth moved to Nevada, Missouri where he pastored the Nevada First Church of the Nazarene for 20 years until retiring in 2000, moving to Independence, Kansas where he served as calling pastor until fully retiring in 2017.

Carl was united in marriage to Ruth Elizabeth Smith on July 9, 1953 at Newport News, Virginia.  She preceded him in death on February 17, 2006.  In April 16, 2007, he was married to Marilyn Wittum.

Carl loved music, playing table tennis and was an avid golfer throughout his life.

Survivors include:

Two Sons:  Carl D. (Twyla) Craig – St. Joseph, Missouri

Berry (Cara) Craig – Galva, Kansas

One Daughter:  Annette Craig – Independence, Kansas

Five Grandchildren:  Timothy Craig, Daniel (Rachel) Craig, Melodee Korff, MaryLynn Craig and fiancé Chris Hemelrich and Macy Craig.

Five Great-grandchildren:  Molly Korff, MaKinnley Craig, Noelle Craig, Lily Craig and Grace Craig.

One Sister:  June Reed – Mount Vernon, Missouri.

In addition to his parents and wife, Ruth, Carl was preceded in death by a brother, Bud Craig and two sisters, Aliene Bieber and Grace Settlemire.

Funeral services for Carl will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, February 20, 2023 at the Independence Church of the Nazarene.  The family will receive friends at the church from 3 to 5 p.m., Sunday.

Memorials are suggested to the Independence Church of the Nazarene.  These may be left at the church or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.

Further obituary details will be announced later by the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Parsons

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com