Craig Shipley

1969 - 2025

Craig Stuart Shipley, Jr.

1969 - 2025

- Craig Stuart Shipley Jr. was born in Long Beach, CA on October 2, 1969 to parents Craig Stuart Shipley Sr. and Kathleen Barnett.

As the oldest of 3 boys, Craig grew up with his brothers Shawn and Jarrod Shipley in Murray, UT, eventually moving to Kearns where he graduated from Kearns High School in 1987 with a theater scholarship to Utah State.

Even though Craig had known Wendi Sellars since childhood, they started dating in 1988 while performing together in a cover band put together by a mutual friend, Chuck Burgess. They married in 1989, and soon welcomed their first child Briana at the end of the year. Unfortunately, around Briana's first birthday, Craig was activated to full-time military service in the United States Marine Corps.

Craig served as a Private First Class infantry, in the Charlie Company of the 3rd Marine Division, and was deployed to Okinawa in 1990 as a part of operations Desert Storm/Desert Shield support. He returned as a Corporal to his family in the fall of 1991 when Craig and Wendi bought their first home in Magna, UT.

Over the next 7 years, they worked on remodeling their home and welcomed two more children, Kyle in 1993, and Lauren in 1995. Four years later in 1999, Craig and Wendi built and moved into their West Jordan house, just before their 4th child, Grant was born. During this time in the early 2000's, Craig went back to University of Phoenix to finish his bachelor's degree in marketing, and their 5th and final child, Kade, was born later in 2002.

Craig held many jobs and had many careers over the years including truck driver, warehouse manager, logistics coordinator, collections manager, Blockbuster area manager and trainer, and mortgage loan officer; but he eventually landed in property and project management, which took him to many places all over the world including China, Japan, Poland, Germany, Australia, the United Kingdom, and many more.

Craig was also a bit of an entrepreneur starting several small businesses throughout his life: aerating, small business moving services, and his favorite venture: 3D printing board game pieces with his brother Shawn. This resulted in what is known as Royal Idiot Hobbies selling all around the world to board game enthusiasts. As his last entrepreneurial move, Craig and Wendi took on a business venture together in 2023 starting up a Menchies Frozen Yogurt in Southern Utah county.

Craig's favorite career opportunity was when he was participating in the Church CES/religion program where he got to student-teach high school students the Old Testament. It was his dream to return to teaching the scriptures because he enjoyed being with the youth; they inspired him and his testimony of his Savior, Jesus Christ, was increased.

Craig was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was baptized by his grandfather, Don Barnett, later ordained a deacon, teacher, priest, and finally elder. He was endowed and sealed to his wife in the Salt Lake City Temple and had a strong testimony of the gospel, recognizing the many blessings in his life. Craig shared many spiritual experiences he had throughout his life which helped him realize those who had already passed on as well as his Father in Heaven, loved him and were always there for him.

Craig was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2017. He always tried to remain positive and find humor in the sometimes "political and social" aspects of the medical cancer world, learning the importance of healing all areas of one's life. Craig returned to his Heavenly Father on Oct 3, 2025 (one day after his 56th birthday) surrounded by family and friends at St. Mark's Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Craig had many hobbies, but his favorites included playing board games with anyone and everyone who would sit down with him, riding his Harley with his brothers and dad, NASCAR races, and a lifelong love of the Dallas Cowboys and Star Wars. Craig was always a "super fan" and when he loved something, he loved it hard. He collected hundreds of board games and Star Wars paraphernalia, and loved to share them with his friends and family.

Craig is preceded in death by his Grandmother Donna Barnett, Grandfather Don Barnett, Grandmother Anna Joyce Sherwood and William "Wheats" Shipley, Uncle Michael Barnett, Uncle Luis Jose Sanchez, Aunt Sheri Knight, Aunt Deborah Barnett Brinton, Aunt Carol Day, and Aunt Melanie Shipley Wilson.

Craig is survived by his parents, Craig Shipley (Traci Shipley) and Kathleen Barnett, his brothers Jarrod (April), and Shawn (Megan), his wife Wendi, his 5 children Briana (Beth), Kyle (Harper), Lauren (Hunter), Grant, Kade, his two grandchildren Wayland and Wilson, his nieces and nephews Alex, Nathan, Seth, Abigail, Tony, Madison, Cierra, Braxten, Misty, Mia, Carter, Austin, Kaily, William, Paedyn, Nola and Gabriel.

Funeral services will be held from 11am - 12pm on Friday, October 17, 2025 at the Welby Stake Building (8841 S 4800 W in West Jordan, UT 84088) with lunch to follow. Burial services will then be at Camp Williams (17111 S Redwood Rd in Bluffdale, UT 84065) at 2pm where we will hold a "roast", as Craig always wanted.

Donations to help cover Craig's end of life costs can be made to his brother, Shawn Shipley through Venmo @Shawn-Shipley-4

Click this link to view additional details about Craig's Services,

including any available live streams: https://my.gather.app/remember/craig-shipley