George 'Dudley' Craig
Dudley passed away at the Kemptville District Hospital on April 19, 2005 in his 88th year, after suffering from a respiratory infection and another stroke. George Dudley Craig of Kemptville formerly of Chesterville, was the beloved husband of the late Evelyn (MacDonald) Craig.
Loving and devoted father of Mary Dawson and her husband John of Kemptville. Dear brother of Donald (Helen) of Winnipeg and Norma Carss (Bob) of Edwards. Precious grandfather of Craig and his wife Catrina of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Mark of Kemptville. Predeceased by one daughter Kathryn Craig, and two brothers Ormond and Leonard.
Visitation was held at the Grant Brown Funeral Home in Kemptville on April 22. A service in celebration of Dudley Craig's life was held in the chapel of the funeral home on April 23. Interment was at Maple Ridge Cemetery.
Memorial donations to the Bayfield Manor Nursing Home, Kemptville District Hospital "Lean on Me" Campaign or the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario would be gratefully acknowledged.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Brownlee Funeral Home in Finch.
Dudley was born and raised at the farm in Russell, with his three brothers and later a baby sister. He was the son of Jessie and Edgar Craig.
On Dec. 27, 1948 he married Evelyn MacDonald. They resided in Winchester where Dudley owned and operated Vice and Craig Funeral Home with his partner Bob Vice. They also owned a furniture store and ran the ambulance service.
In 1963 they built a second funeral home in Chesterville and moved there to reside with daughters Mary Ellen and Kathryn Anne. He was a devoted and loving father and husband. Later a third funeral home was built near Metcalfe.
Dudley and Evelyn were members of Winchester Baptist Church and then Chesterville United Church. Dudley played an active part in the Rotary Club of Chesterville and received the honor of the Paul Harris Fellowship Award.
Retirement was enjoyed at the cottage near Kemptville. Everyone enjoyed boating on the Rideau River, swimming and waterskiing. Dudley enjoyed working part time for Grant Brown Funeral Home and Tubman Funeral Home. He and Evelyn had fun bowling together and going out to dinner and dances. They both were excellent role models to their grandsons Craig and Mark Dawson, who just adored them.
The family wishes to extend special thanks to funeral directors Barry Brownlee, Bill MacDonald and Grant Brown for all their kindness and support and to Dr. Leahy, and all the staff at Bayfield Manor and Kemptville District Hospital for their excellent care of Dudley.
Rev. Mary Lou Shorthill of Chesterville United Church and Pastor Craig Peters were officiating clergy at Dudley's funeral service. They were of great assistance and comfort to the family. Marj Patterson played lovely hymns and had been taught music by Evelyn. Special kind words of remembrance were given by friend and fellow funeral director Barry Brownlee and by grandson Craig Dawson. Candles of remembrance were lit in loving memory of Evelyn and Kathy by Mary and Terry Stranges. Mary spoke and shared her Dad's last journey. They were able to communicate to one another the importance of faith and love. In the New Testament of the Bible John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Mary finds peace and comfort to know that her precious loved ones have eternal life. She was at Dudley's bedside when he passed away.
Dudley's resting place is at Maple Ridge Cemetery. Special thanks to pallbearers Bill Craig, Jim Craig, Jeff Carss, Terry Stranges, Anne (Dawson) Townsend and Craig Dawson.
Mary, John, Mark, Craig and Catrina Dawson thank everyone for the outpouring of love, phone calls, sympathy cards and donations in loving memory of their precious Dudley.