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BORN
1964
DIED
2024
Craig Carlson Obituary
Craig Thomas Carlson, a resident of Linda, CA, passed peacefully in his sleep on March 8, 2024. He leaves behind his loving family Kelly Kositchek Carlson and foster daughter Alexis Attaway.
Craig was born July 3, 1964, at Stanford Hospital and was raised in Los Altos Hills, the youngest of four children.
He attended school in Los Altos, graduating from Los Altos High School in 1982, then took courses in plant science at Cuesta College (Paso Robles) and Foothill College (Los Altos Hills). He later majored in Business and Management at Chico State University.
Following the death of his grandfather, Craig took over the management of the family's 1000-acre rice farming operation in Richvale, Butte County. He joined the Butte County Rice Growers Association and became a District Manager.
When the farming operation was sold, Craig moved on and became a member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), supervising course management at several golf courses in Arizona and Northern California.
Upon retirement, he met the love of his life, Kelly, a nurse in Sacramento. They married and bought a home in Linda, where Craig enjoyed pursuing his interest in photography and puttering in his yard. He would often send photos of his flowers to those he knew needed cheering up.
He also loved kayaking and taking their dogs to a beach to romp in the surf.
Craig was an intelligent man with a quick wit and dry sense of humor. He is cherished for being kind and gentle, reliable, sensitive and thoughtful of others.
Craig had a big compassionate heart, and was always eager to help his family and friends with house projects and join them in family get-togethers.
Surviving Craig, in addition to Kelly and Alexis; are his mother, Lois Rogers (David); and father, Jerome Carlson (Shirley); sisters, Alisa Gregory (Gary), Sheila Boddy (Steve), Kristen Carlson, and Jennifer James; brothers, Steven Carlson and Matthew James; and nephews, Jerome, Erik and Alex Carlson. He was the grandson, of Edward and Linn Hastain of Biggs, CA; and Ralph and Alice Carlson of Richvale and Oroville, CA.
A private family Celebration of Life will be held on his birthday. The family encourages giving to a favorite charity in honor of his memory.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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