Eleanor "Susan" Craig

Susan was born in Brownsboro, Alabama on January 1, 1928 to Robert Thompson and Mary Graham Lawler, Jr. She lived with her parents and her two sisters on the family farm until she was eleven years old, when she moved with her family to Gurley, Alabama. In May of 1948, she graduated from Florence State Teacher's College and began a career in teaching and laboratory research. On June 20, 1948, she married Charles C. Craig, Jr. of Florence, Alabama. Charles worked for Reynolds Aluminum in Florence until 1952 when he was transferred to the Sherwin Plant in Ingleside, Texas. He and Susan made their home in Corpus Christi and soon began their family, having three little girls within five years. In 1958, they moved to Portland, built a home and joined St. Christopher's By The Sea Episcopal Church where they were both very active and dedicated members - Susan with the Altar Guild and Charles as a Lay Reader and member of the Vestry - for over 50 years. Susan enjoyed the privilege of being able to stay at home with her young girls and devoted herself to teaching them not only about love, respect and responsibility, but also about how to be creative, to enjoy the outdoors, and to just have fun. After the girls started school, Susan returned to her teaching career, teaching math and science at Gregory-Portland Junior High for 13 years. In 1977, they were again transferred, this time to Jamaica for 3 years, then to Western Australia for five years, returning to their home in Portland in 1986. She and Charles loved to travel and drove many miles sightseeing the United States and visiting their children and grandchildren. It was very important to them to attend all of their grandchildren's births, baptisms, school activities, graduations, marriages and great grandbabies' births. After Charles passed away in 2009, Susan continued to attend as many functions and family gatherings as she could and when she couldn't she was always there in spirit and in prayer. Her last family gathering was held in Victoria, Texas on January 12, 2013 in honor of her 85th birthday. Her family loved her dearly, and will always cherish the memories of these get-togethers, especially the anticipated times when "SueMa" would take the floor and tell her latest and greatest stories and jokes. She will be deeply missed. In addition to being a strong, loving and devoted Christian, wife, mother, and grandmother, Susan was also an avid golfer and bridge player who loved to get together with her friends every chance she got.
Susan was preceded in death by her loving husband of 61 years, Charles C. Craig, Jr., her parents Robert and Mary Lawler, Jr. and her two sisters, Ruth Graham "Sugar Baby" Lipscomb and Mary Agnes "Bawley" Burgess (Bill). She is survived by her three daughters and son-in-laws, Cory (Lee) Barton of Portland, Cindy (Bobby) Becker of College Station, and Mary (Walt) Franklin of Tilden; her grandchildren, Melissa (Felipe) Aguilar, Jason (Shannon) Rubrecht, Travis (Leslie) Becker, Lesley Becker, Karen (Josh) Heffer, Matt Franklin and Stevo Franklin; her great grandchildren, Isidra, Damien and Paige Aguilar, Reid Rubrecht and Aubrey Becker; her brother-in-law W.O. Lipscomb; her niece Ora Susan Lipscomb (Tim) Baughn; her dear friend and caregiver, Rachel Sauceda; her devoted companion, Marley; several other nieces and nephews and many very special friends.
The family would like to thank the entire Hospice team that took such tender, loving care of Susan; especially, Clare and Connie who were always there for her.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30am Saturday, February 2, 2013 at St. Christopher's By The Sea Episcopal Church in Portland. Interment to follow at Palms Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that contributions be made to the Altar Guild at St. Christopher's By The Sea Episcopal Church, 820 Wildcat Dr., Portland, TX 78374 or Lighthouse Hospice, 210 S. Carancahua St. Ste. 301, Corpus Christi, TX 78401.

Service Details

Saturday, February 2nd, 2013, 10:30am, St. Christopher's By The Sea Episcopal Church

Interment Details

Palms Memorial Gardens