Keith Patrick Russell Craig's Obituary
Keith Patrick Russell Craig of Windsor, CO, passed away at the age of 79 on March 28, 2018 with loving family at his side in Auburn, WA.
Keith was born November 16, 1938 to Patrick R. Craig and Marguerite Hatter in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Keith was raised with six siblings in Montreal. He was the second oldest. At the age of 19 he moved south of the Canadian border and promptly joined the United States Air Force in 1958 where he served the military on active duty for 20 years, retiring in 1978. Keith served in Morocco, Vietnam, Norway, France, Greece, Germany, Greenland, and the United States. His primary role was delivering the mail – including to those fighting during the Vietnam War. He became a proud American citizen in 1980.
Keith met his wife of nearly 50 years, Cecile Longie, in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He became step-father to Michael and Barb (later adopting Barb), and proud father of Dawn. He has two children from a previous marriage in Norway; Elisabeth and Linda.
After retiring from the Air Force, Keith and his family moved to Colorado where he spent another 22 years working for the US Postal Service as a letter carrier. He and his wife later moved to Sequim, Washington to be closer to their children and grandchildren in the late 1990’s but returned to Windsor, Colorado to care for Cecile’s parents. Cecile and Keith moved back to Washington state at Christmas time 2015.
Keith is survived by his children; daughters Dawn Cherne (Stephen) of Washington, Barb Brindle (Brad) of Washington, Elizabeth Heier (Stale) of Norway, Linda Svendsen (Troen) of Norway, and step-son Michael Longie (Anja) of Belgium. He also leaves behind brothers Garry of Nova Scotia, Thomas of Florida and Bart of Costa Rica. Keith also leaves eleven grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Keith is preceded in death by his wife Cecile, father Patrick, mother Marguerite, infant son Michael, brothers Brian and Gordon, and sister Noreen.
In his earlier years, Keith loved to ride motorcycles and was known by the nickname, ‘Crazy Rolling Coffin’. He grew up in the streets of Montreal playing hockey, a sport that followed him well into his sixties, where he was known on the ice as ‘The Old Man’. He later coached the Fort Collins champion recreational team sponsored by Potts. Music, dancing, working in his yard, playing golf with his buddies, playing cards with the family, and spoiling his grandchildren became favorite past times.
Services will be held Friday, 1:00 pm on June 1st at Tahoma National Cemetery where he will receive full Military Honors.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Hospice of King County (WA), Hospice of Weld County (CO) or the Larimer County (CO) Humane Society.
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