Barry Craig

Dad was born on July 19, 1949 at the Watson Hospital, the third child and youngest son of Doug and Elsie Craig. He grew up on the farm just outside of Naicam and attended school in the same community.

Dad joined the Saskatchewan Army Cadet Corp when it began in 1966 in Naicam. It was a great opportunity to travel. He attended summer cadet camps in Vernon, BC and, after high school, he remained with the Cadet Corp in Naicam in the role of an instructor. He served with SK Cadet until 1990, filling a number of positions from instructor to captain to Army League Representative. The latter position made it possible to visit a number of Cadet Corps across Saskatchewan.

Mom and dad met in high school. After three years of dating, he was united in marriage with Shirley Anderson on August 8, 1970. Following a camping honeymoon through Alberta and British Columbia, they settled in Melfort, SK for the next seven years. Dad commuted to the farm every day.

In the beginning years of their marriage, dad tried his hand at several endeavors: He attempted raising pigs, but soon discovered it was not a money-making venture; the pigs died. He did some trucking for Federated Co-op; this was seasonal work. He even spent one winter as a travelling car salesman; while the position suited his gift-of-the-gab nature, his honesty hindered his ability to sell a product. However, dad was never one to fret and had a positive outlook even amongst the most challenging of times.

In 1972, mom and dad purchased two quarters of land northeast of Naicam from John Sparks, and in 1978, they built a house where the family farm is still in operation. Dad purchased Harry Thompson’s grain cleaning mill in 1976 in hopes for supplementary income. He also did some trucking through the years for Backus in Naicam and for Voz in Lake Lenore, and this past winter, for A&K Enns in Melfort. Dad worked hard his entire life and was known to drop everything to help someone in need, even when it came at a cost to himself.

In June of 1979, their daughter, Pam, was born and then in October 1981, their son, Sean, joined the family. Dad spent countless hours playing games with us and relentlessly teasing us whether it was advice to “never take a man’s last dollar” in Monopoly, skunking us badly in cribbage, or repeatedly cornering our ‘man’ in Checkers to teach us how to think three moves ahead of your opponent, and was never too busy to bat a ball when we asked – even in the middle of harvest!

Stoney Lake Bible Camp became a summer tradition for the past 30+ years as he was involved in numerous activities - everything from construction of the chapel, the building of the newer cabins, cooking in the kitchen, driving the pontoon boat, and generally harassing all of the staff!

Mom and dad enjoyed travelling. In April 2012, they accompanied Pam on a ‘Beaches and Battlefields’ tour to Europe, visiting Holland, Belgium and France, culminating in the 95th Anniversary of Vimy Ridge. Then in July of 2015, they took a cruise to Alaska with their friends, Glen and Alie Neish. In January 2018, they boarded a cruise that went through the Panama Canal and then in June 2019, they journeyed back to Alaska.

In August 2020, mom and dad celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with their children, grandchildren and siblings.

Dad was ushered into heaven on July 29, 2022 after a short illness while in the ICU at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, SK. He was predeceased by his parents, Doug (1979) and Elsie (2016); his brother, Dennis (2013) and his brother-in-law, Brian Peterson (1989).

Dad leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 51.97 years, Shirley; his daughter, Pam (Devin) Elliott and their son Kaelan; his son, Sean (Jaylyn) Craig and their children, Brody, Tyler, and Teagan; his sister Joan (Ken) Winand and their children, Jason Winand and Kimberly Winand; his sister Pat and her children, Jennifer (Milt) Dawe and Craig (Nadine) Peterson; brother-in-law, Gary (Penny) Anderson and their children Syrina (Brent) Wright, Derek Valente, and Dana Valente; special friends, Glen and Alie Neish; numerous great-nieces and nephews, cousins, cousins-in-law; as well as a whole community.