Patricia Lou Craig

Patricia Lou Craig, 78, of Midland, was called home by the Lord on February 22nd, 2013 in Midland. She was born in Bay City, Michigan in 1934 and lived in Detroit, and Cleveland, Ohio.Pat was a Nurse in a Cleveland Hospital when she left to serve with the U. S. Navy at the Naval Hospital, Corpus Christi. She was the honor graduate of her military medical class. She met and married a fellow staff member Donald, whose career was active duty medical service. In her marriage, she found the love and security she had never known in her childhood, and each military move brought new opportunities to fulfill Gods purpose for her life. Pat did not describe the entirety of her childhood with family and friends. She did discuss the loneliness of her homeless periods, inadequate food, and the absence of hope for her future. The absence of love would have a profound effect without an escape. In a dark moment, an unknown benefactor sent Pat to a parochial school for a few years and she would later say that the Nuns saved her life. They taught that God loved her and her parental neglect was preparing her for a better life and one of service to children and their parents. Pat believed, and at age 13 told her life story to a court Judge who terminated parental rights. She chose to live in the home of a Dentist and his wife where she was trained as a Dental Assistant. Pat then completed Nurses training. Pat was a compassionate, Christian woman of great character, who with family support, began fulfilling Gods purpose for her life by providing foster care for 6 children in her home, in two states. She was a counselor with the Navy Relief Society; taught Sunday school; directed a church Altar Guild; served as an aide for hearing-impaired children and was a reading mentor. Privately, she assisted Navy families with children while the service member was deployed.Don retired in 1983 and the family followed long-time friend, Commander Margaret Thompson, a Navy Nurse, into retirement in Midland where Pat was manager of Upstairs Downstairs childrens clothing store. For many years she was a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Voices for Children and for CASA of West Texas, in the court of Judges Dean Rucker and Sylvia Chavez, both of whom she greatly admired. She strongly advocated for proper care and placement of children and was an honored volunteer. Pat set a personal example of assisting those in need and her husband, children and friends are grateful to have shared in the remarkable life of Patricia Craig. We will be reunited one day in Heaven.Survivors include her devoted husband of 57 years, Donald, Captain, Medical Service Corps, U.S. Navy, Retired; son Michael, wife Nancy, Olney, Maryland and children Katie and Tommy; daughter, Margaret Krotowski, husband Randy, Peoria, Illinois and children, Ryan and Carly; daughter Michelle Booth, husband Robert, Midland, Texas, and children Mark, Kolten, Savanna and Brennan; and sister-in law, Dorothy Cox and husband Troy, Buffalo, Texas, and three great-granddaughters.The family is grateful for care provided by Doctors Raj Patel, Paul Slaughter, Don McLarey II, and Phillip Everett. Also Nurse Practitioner Cynthia Hill, home healthcare staff, the staff of Younger Center at Manor Park and Home Hospice. Helpful was counsel by friends and from Christ Church Midland; Manor Park; Susan Frederickson of the Area Agency on Aging; Dr. Juan Gil and Dr. Anand Cholia.A celebration of her life will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at Christ Church Midland, 5501 N. Midkiff, Fr. Jon Stasney officiating. Honorary pallbearers are the members of the Altar Guild.Patricias life began in human hopelessness, but Gods love and His plan for her life brought her earthly love in marriage, family, service to her country, and children in need. She encouraged homeless children to achieve as she had done and to hold parents accountable for child neglect. Patricia will be forever honored by her family, friends and her nation after being laid to rest, with military honors, in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the non-profit, Manor Park Younger Center, Inc., 2208 Loop 250 W. Midland 79707, or Christ Church Midland, 5501 N Midkiff Road, Midland 79705.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at: www.npwelch.com.,