Craig Lyle Empey

1960 - 2025

Craig was born July 2, 1960 in Provo, Utah to Gary and Marva Empey. He passed away surrounded by his wife and children in his home after cancer treatment proved ineffective. It was a sacred experience to share this transition with him.

Craig went to several elementary schools in the Blackfoot, ID area and Sacramento, CA. He graduated from Snake River High School where he made many life long friends and shared many, many "memorable" experiences. He served in the Birmingham England Mission from 1979-1981. We were able to return to his mission a few years ago. He loved seeing those sites and remembering all the people he shared them with. He attended Ricks College and Utah State University, earning his Master's Degree. Wherever Craig went he made friends and changed people for the better.

Craig was a seminary teacher for the LDS church from 1986-2002. He started his CES career teaching seminary at White Horse High School in Montezuma Creek, Utah on the Navajo Reservation. This was forever one of his most cherished experiences. He loved the good people of that area. He was a teacher and principal in the seminary program at Meridian High School in Meridian, Idaho from 1989-2001 and Nampa, Idaho from 2001-2002. He loved those students and over the years many have become dear friends. It meant everything to him when a former student would reach out to him and share how they were doing or come over for a visit. He loved this meaningful work and he would have loved to have taught forever. Due to circumstances beyond his control, 2002 brought about life changes and new opportunities.

He met the love of his life and best friend, Sherri on September 6th, 2002 and they were married on November 30th, 2002 in the Billings, Montana Temple. They began their biggest adventure and greatest love story. They were united in raising their family and sharing their love, their home and their food with anyone who came across their path.

Craig bought a business and moved the family to Idaho Falls, Idaho where he continued to influence people for good by sharing his love for the gospel, and being Santa. He is well known by the children of our area as the "real" Santa and they often saw him in their church, their school and in their homes. He loved to serve and never counted the cost. Craig would regularly drop whatever he was doing and help with anything you might need. Hundreds, maybe thousands, of people have eaten his delicious cooking!

He lived a life of love, laughter, and scaring people. Nothing made him laugh harder than seeing someone spooked or in perceived danger, and most often he was the cause. He was forever a prankster and no one escaped his mischief. We never met an old friend without hearing a new story about something Craig did that made them fear for their lives, but it was always accompanied by laughter and, "That was so much fun!"

Craig never gave up on anything, not people, not animals, not an old pile of wood. He saw potential in everything. He didn't want to let go of the life we had built, but also wasn't afraid to go on. He lived a life full of faith and friendship.

Craig is survived by his wife, Sherri Empey, his children, Lance (Jennifer) Empey, Mitchell (Alyson) Empey, Travis Empey, Zachariah Empey, Erin (Tyler) Wheeler, Angel (Taran) Hoskin and his beloved grandchildren, Braxton, Aiden, Summer, Owen, Ax, Waylon, Callum, and soon, Taralyn. He is also survived by his siblings, Peggy (Scott) Hansen, Mark (Kendra) Empey, Tina Empey, and Lisa Warren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Trevor Empey, and his brother in law, John Warren.

It is hard to sum up a person like Craig Empey on paper. He was far too big, too generous, too funny, too kind, too loving to be explained in a few words. He filled us with love and hoped we would go about doing the same.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, November 8, 2025 at the Cloverdale Ward Chapel, 915 Crimson Drive in Idaho Falls. The family will visit with friends beginning one hour prior to the service at the church. After the service, the family invites those in attendance to stay for a meal and continued sharing of stories of Craig's life.