James Craig

DERBY - James S. (Jim) Craig,

Age 73, of Derby passed away Sept 19th after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Jim is survived by his wife of 51 years, Lela “Suzanne” (Farmer) Craig, and one son, Jason Craig and by divine intervention and love “Team Cleveland,” Michael and Natalie, parents of granddaughters Presley and Kylie. Jim was a devout Christian and a man of unshakable faith in God’s mercy. He served as a deacon in the Baptist Church and for over twenty-five years taught an adult Sunday school class at Derby’s Pleasantview Baptist Church. He also served as a member of the church’s finance committee, chairman of the personnel committee and as a trustee. Jim, a twenty-year military veteran, retired from the Kansas Air National Guard in the grade of lieutenant colonel on April 29, 1987. He served five years as Chief of Safety for the 184th Tactical Fighter Wing at McConnell AFB. Jim enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in October 1966 and was commissioned a second lieutenant on January 4, 1967. He was an F-4 Phantom weapons system officer with more than eleven years in the cockpit while on active duty with the U.S. Air Force in Europe and at mainland USAF installations. He also served as an F-4 weapons system officer with the Kansas Air National Guard. Lt. Col. Craig was a Vietnam War combat veteran, serving as a navigator on a C-119 gunship from May 1970 through April 1971. Among his military decorations were the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm. Following retirement from the Kansas Air National Guard, Jim worked for Boeing Military Airplanes and, later, Boeing’s Commercial Airplanes Group in quality improvement from 1987 until his retirement in 2003. Jim served ten years as a member of the Derby City Council and served as council president in 2014. He was an active member of the Derby Kiwanis Club, serving in a number of leadership positions, including president. Jim was born on Dec. 14, 1941 in Louisiana, MO, the only child of Reginald and Jamie Craig. His parents preceded him in death. He attended the University of Missouri at Kansas City and graduated from Baker University, Baldwin, KS in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology. He also earned a Master of Arts degree in 1977 from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO in Psychology/Guidance and Counseling. Visitation with family and friends will be 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, Sept 25th at Smith Family Mortuary, 1415 N. Rock Rd., Derby. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept 26th at Pleasantview Baptist Church, 1335 N. Buckner, Derby. Interment will be at Derby’s Hillcrest Cemetery immediately following the funeral services. In lieu of flowers, friends may consider memorials to the Wounded Warrior Project, Victory in the Valley, and Serenity Home Health.