Ronald James Craig

Ronald James Craig lived life as a great adventure with theme songs for every occasion. From dancing to water and snow skiing, scuba diving, motorcycles, planes, horses, RV trips with friends and family and his great love for music, He was never short on passion for the things and people he loved. All of those who knew him well were better for having experienced his unmatchable hospitality. It has been a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia, however true to his personality, he fought a tough fight along the “scenic route.” He passed away in his home, surrounded by loved ones on March 31, 2023.

From His hard work ethic to his dramatic story telling, there was nothing simply par with Ron. When he started something, he finished; and he wasn’t afraid to tackle something he knew little about, all the while with the strength and drive of the expert in the room. He genuinely loved his friends and family and had such great respect for their individual accomplishments and strengths. He was the first to encourage a job well done and hard work.

Ron was born in Longview, Texas on June 27, 1938, to Johnny and Ted Craig. His brother, Bill, was six years old when he was born. They would spend their childhood in East Texas and in Fort Worth. Ron graduated from Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth, Texas in 1957 where he was proud to be the leader of the Rifle team and ROTC. When he was turned away from joining the military due to a severly broken clavicle, he pursued football at OSU. He would go on to try out for the Houston Texans years later and then settle for many years of playing in football leagues in the community with friends and co-workers. He eventually graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in business from the University of Texas in Arlington. He worked many years, and then retired from, Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth.

Ron enjoyed the fine arts of theater, and it was on stage in a play where he met LaVonne Osborn, a small-town girl from Oklahoma. She would become the center of his world and he her knight in shining armor. He brought three handsome boys into the marriage and after a few years, they decided a house in the country would be the best fit for the family. They moved to a house in Burleson where Ron worked hard building fences and miles of dense, rock retaining walls. He built an amazing barn and corral for the horses. He waged war on the fire ants and scorpions and he and LaVonne transformed that place into an oasis of their very own and they made very dear and life-long friendships with their neighbors along the way. They unexpectedly had a daughter in May 1975, and for thirty-five years they called their little spread, home. They picked stickers as a family ‘til their fingers bled and by the time grandkids came along, Ron was proud they were able to run barefoot in the pastures he kept manicured carefully enough to compete with the beauty of any Texas golf course.

After Ron and LaVonne retired, they moved to LaVonne’s family farm in Oklahoma and built a lovely home. A small miracle moved that Texas boy from his deep roots to the little farm in Green Country. They were blessed to spend several precious years together working on projects, feeding the birds, and watching sunrises and sunsets, away from the noise of traffic and into the bustle of nature. They attended Blackburn Baptist church and Skeedee Assembly of God church, both of which have been such sweet and caring neighbors. We thank you for your kindness and love.

Ron has left a rich heritage of family and will be missed by many.

Family and Friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life Service for Ron at 1 pm on April 5, 2023 at Blackburn Cemetery Pavilion in Blackburn Oklahoma.

In lieu of flowers, if inclined, please donate to Lewy Body Dementia Association.

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