Obituary of Rosemary Craig

Rosemary Craig Rosemary Craig, age 76, passed away on Saturday morning, February 12, 2010, at her group home in Rochester, where she had been living for the past six months. For the last 30 years, she had battled MS. Rosemary was born February 5, 1935, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Dale and Hazel Christian. She was the youngest of six children. She Moved to California as a young child and attended Bell Gardens High School in California. After High School she met and married her husband of 56 years, Thomas J. Craig. Tom was in the Marines, so Tom and Rosemary were able to travel and had the opportunity to live in Hawaii. After having their first child, they settled in Southern California. Rosemary enjoyed being a mother to all three of their children, Cynthia, John, and TJ, and a wife to Tom. While living in Southern California, Rosemary worked for Vons supermarkets’ main office and loved her job. In 1968, Tom and Rosemary and their three children left California and moved to Olympia, Washington. Tom and Rosemary built a new home and small farm in the Oyster Bay area. Rosemary loved Washington State and all the beauty it had. She loved cooking, baking and gardening. During this time, she also became an avid genealogist. She joined the Mormon Church and felt very close to her Heavenly Father. After the boys were in high school, Tom and Rose sold the farm and moved in town on the Boulevard. Rosemary went back into the work force, working for Puget Power. Rosemary had many friends at her new job and enjoyed her work each day. In1982, Rosemary was diagnosed with MS and needed to retire from Puget Power shortly after that. At the time of her retirement, Tom and Rosemary moved to their dream home on Mayfield Lake in Mossyrock. Rosemary loved it there - it was so peaceful. You could find her almost anytime quilting. Rosemary taught quilting to others, as well as worked in several quilting groups. It’s not certain just how many quilts Rosemary made, but she would rather give one away than sell one. She loved seeing the smile on people's faces when she would give them a quilt. She made a quilt for every missionary that came to her home. She was also involved in the Mossyrock Garden Club and worked very hard on their Christmas Bazaar each year. She would buy used dolls all year long, clean them up and make then make them new clothes, then let each little girl take one home from the Bazaar. Tom and Rose had never been happier. It was like a dream come true for them living at the lake. But, due to poor health, they needed to move closer into town. In 2006, Tom and Rosemary moved to Centralia and left their lake house with hopes that they would be able to return some day. After the death of her husband, Rosemary’s health continued to go downhill, until she needed to move yet again, this time to a small group home of six women in Rochester, where she lived until her death. Rosemary is survived by her three children, Cynthia Blocher of Centralia, John Craig of Olympia, TJ Craig and wife Jay of Olympia; daughter-in-law Lyne Craig of Olympia; and her twin brother Galen B. Christian of St George, Utah. Rosemary had eight grandchildren and 5 3/4 great grandchildren, Stuart Blocher and wife Tara Chadwell and children Callie and Nick Chadwell all of Olympia; Rose Wright and husband Travis Wright and children Addison Rose and Lilly Mae of Camdenton, Missouri; Becky Blocher with child, Harper Thomas of Olympia; Crystal Craig, Gavin Craig, and Connor Craig all of Olympia; Kaily Craig of Olympia, residing in Ellensburg attending school; Adam Riley and son Dylan Riley, both from Southern California. Rosemary loved all of her family so deeply. They were everything to her. And she was so very happy to see her newest great grandchildren Addison and Lilly by photos just days before her passing. Further surviving Rosemary are many loving nieces and nephews and other relatives and many good friends. Some who need to be mentioned are, Marla Miller, who Rosemary thought of as a daughter; David Swan, her daughter Cindy’s fiancé, who she loved to watch football with; and Betty Rivas, her best friend and devoted caregiver. Rosemary was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas J Craig; her parents, Dale Henry Christian and Hazel Ellen Stewart-Christian; her brothers and sisters, Laura Shillander, Lillian Miller, Dale Christian Jr., and Benjamin Christian. Rosemary will be truly missed by all who knew her. To leave memories of Rosemary or condolences for the family, please click on "View Guestbook" below.