Laurie Baker Craig

Laurie Baker Craig, the second child and only son of Mary Baker and Laurie Moreland Craig, was born on February 1, 1944, in Helena, Arkansas. On the morning of September 14, 2023, after a happy day of canning homegrown peaches with his wife and riding his bike along his favorite Mapleton trail, he passed away unexpectedly in his sleep.

Laurie’s earliest years were spent around beloved extended family members in Arkansas where he was nicknamed “Skippie” and loved to be outside. At the age of five, his family moved to Kuwait where his father worked for Gulf Oil company. He had many long and fascinating stories from this time of his life about his British elementary school, riding camels and horses over sand dunes and meeting Arabian sheiks. At the age of 14, while his parents stayed in Kuwait, he moved back to the United States to attend boarding school at Missouri Military Academy. There he learned exceptional self-discipline that stayed with him his whole life. He embraced education and attended Southern Methodist University and later earned a degree in economics at Brigham Young University, as well as a Juris Doctorate from the University of Utah, all with the highest honors.

While at SMU, he was influenced by his roommate to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which he had not considered previously. Though his parents initially discouraged him from taking a break from school, he fulfilled a two-year mission to Central America in the countries of Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama, including the San Blas Islands. The experiences he had there defined the rest of his life as he developed a personal faith in Jesus Christ, reverence for the Book of Mormon, and a deep desire to bring others closer to Christ.

While in law school, Laurie was drafted into the US Army due to the Vietnam War. This required him to move to Fort Ord, California, where he served as a law clerk in the JAG Corps. While there, he met and fell in love with the pretty and talented girl who played the organ at church, Pamela Redd, a home economics teacher from Raymond, Alberta, Canada. After a lengthy courtship they were sealed in the Cardston, Alberta Temple on July 22, 1972. They spent the next 51 years working hand in hand to face life’s challenges together.

Laurie and Pam put down their roots in Phoenix, Arizona, where he practiced corporate real estate law for 31 years. He was very dedicated to his career, but his heart truly belonged to his family and service in the Church. Laurie and Pam and their children have great love for the members of the Phoenix 35th Ward and Phoenix North Stake, so many of whom looked to each other as a Church family.

He gave countless memorable talks from the pulpit and touched even more through one-on-one opportunities. He did this as a bishop and stake president in Arizona, MTC branch and district presidencies in Provo, mission president (Canary Islands, Spain), temple president (San Jose, Costa Rica), temple sealer (Provo City Center Temple), patriarch, and home teacher, minister, husband, father, grandfather and friend. He frequently told his family members of the unmistakable love of the Lord he felt for each individual as he helped them know they were profoundly loved by a generous God and that they could always repent and forgive by relying on Him.

His golden years were spent in Lindon and Springville, Utah, where he loved to garden, eat meals with his many grandchildren, watch shows with his sweetheart and tell stories from his life with incredible details. His wife and six children will remember his easy laughter, tireless work ethic, long Family Home Evening lessons, big bowls of ice cream and popcorn, love of Southern food and cool old cars, adventurous vacations, regular priesthood blessings and generous gift giving. His family will most remember his sweet voice that had confidence when speaking to God and who always remembered, no matter how long that took, to pray for everyone.

Laurie is survived by his wife Pamela Redd Craig and their six children: Becky (Richard) Bagley; Stephen (Emily) Craig; Nancy (Travis) Johanson; Katie (Ben) Richardson; Austin (Beccy) Craig; Angela (Brian) Ewell; 23 beloved grandchildren; and sister Genia Pearson and her family.

Laurie has enjoyed many close and meaningful relationships throughout his life and the Craig family wishes to express deep gratitude for all who have loved and associated with him. We love you.

A viewing for family and friends will be held on Friday, September 22, 2023 from 6-8 pm at Wheeler Mortuary, 211 East 200 South, Springville.  Funeral services will be Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 11:00 am at the LDS Chapel located at 2379 East River Bottom Road (1100 South), Springville, with a viewing held that morning at the church from 9:30-10:30 am prior to the services.  Interment will be in the Springville Evergreen Cemetery.  

Condolences for the family may be expressed on this page.

 

For those unable to join us in person, you may view the Services via Facebook Live on Saturday, September 23rd beginning at 11:00 am at the following link:   https://fb.watch/neR0vvgBkV/