Robert Terry Craig

Robert Terry Craig

Robert Terry Craig, known by all his friends and family as "Bob", was born in Denver Colorado on June 11, 1909. He lived in the Denver area for all but the last 9 months of his life; the last months were spent in the sandhills of Nebraska with his daughter, Mary and her husband, Sam. Though he enjoyed seeing an entirely different part of the country and experiencing a very rural ranching culture for a short time, he missed the Denver area, Colorado mountains, and most of all, his beloved friends and neighbors.

Bob finished his schooling with the completion of 8th grade and went to work as a very young man. He married at a young age and out of that marriage were born two sons, Jim and Barry. He was divorced in the late 40's and then married Dorothy Davis in 1952. To this union was born twin daughters, Mary and Martha, and son, John.

Bob worked at Lowry Air Force Base during the 2nd World War as a civilian. When the war ended and soldiers came home, that job ended and he went to work as an auto parts salesman in Englewood. He worked for 30+ years in the wholesale auto parts business, calling on service stations and auto parts retailers in the south Denver / Englewood area where he made many life-long friends, until his retirement in the early 1970's. In retirement he filled his time "putzing" around the yard and the house, helping neighbors "putz" around their yards and houses, serving at his church, South Sheridan Baptist of Lakewood, working occasionally in an auto parts store, and in his 80's and 90's, volunteering at his favorite Christian ministry, Set Free Prison Ministries.

It was during the transition time between his marriages and after he lost his job at Lowry that the most transforming event of his life took place: he came to know Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. And from that moment on his mission in life was to tell everyone he met about the love of Jesus Christ for sinners. Though at times he may have seemed "pushy" to some, he only shared his faith out of a deep appreciation and understanding of what he had been saved from and the passionate desire for others to find that same freedom. One example of his determination to share the gospel of Jesus was remembered by a granddaughter who used to watch him "clean rocks". When asked what that was about, she related that grandpa would put gospel tracts on bus stop benches, park benches, etc. and he'd put a "clean" rock on top of it to keep the tract from blowing away. After all – no one would want to touch a dirty rock.

Bob and his wife, Dorothy, were members of South Sheridan Baptist Church for more than 30 years. No one was more excited than he was about the new property that South Sheridan built on and is now occupying as Red Rocks Baptist Church in Morrison. The one time he was able to return to Denver after his move to Nebraska was to attend the dedication service in the new building, where his funeral service will also be held.

Bob was preceded in his heavenly homegoing by his wife of 49 ½ years, Dorothy. He entered the presence of Jesus on August 22, 2007 at the home of his daughter and son-in-law, Sam and Mary Courts of Springview, Nebraska. He is also survived by son, James Craig and wife, Joyce of Lakewood, CO, son, Robert Barry Craig of Denver, CO; Jim and Barry's mother, Mabel, also of Denver, CO; daughter, Martha and husband, Rocky of Vacaville, California; son, John and wife, Becky of Richardson, TX, 10 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and many, many dearly loved extended family and friends.

Memorials in Bob's name are being designated to Set Free Prison Ministries, a Denver-based correspondence Bible Study ministry that Bob worked in for several years before he moved to Nebraska. Gifts to this ministry can be sent to PO Box 19760, Denver, CO 80219 in his name.

Dad, we'll miss you dearly….but we are so glad that when it was time, you were able to "fly to Jesus and live"! Tell Mom hello and we'll see you again someday!