Obituaries for the week of 9/4/18

Raymond Austin Craig III

Westwood native and lifelong resident Raymond Austin Craig III passed from this life suddenly, with his family at his side, at Renown Regional Medical Center located in Reno, NV Sunday, August 26, 2018.

Born in the former Westwood Hospital on Dec. 26, 1950 to the late Arkansas natives, Raymond, Jr. and Betty Lou (Faddis) Craig, Ray attended both grammar school and high school in Westwood, graduating from Westwood High as a member of the “Class of 1969,” where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball. He went on to further his education at Lassen Community College.

Following college, Ray worked for a brief period of time as a firefighter out of the Bogart Ranger Station with the USFS before going to work in the woods for the Collins Family out of Chester, California.

On July 1, 1972, in a ceremony at the former Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church, Ray married his childhood sweetheart, a relationship that began together in grade school and the one who became his best friend and love of his life, Katherine (Kathy) Giannotti. To this blessed union a son and a daughter were born.

Ray also began what has become a 45-year career as a clerk with the U. S. Postal Service in 1972. He has been a longtime volunteer with the Westwood Fire Department, and along with his wife, they coached Little League for six years. Ray was an avid San Francisco 49er fan, as his “Fan Room” well attests to, as well as a fan of the San Francisco Giants. Ray enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing, but first and foremost, found great pleasure in watching his grandson Cooper play baseball, basketball and football and swimming with his granddaughters Aubrielle and Alexa. He, along with Kathy, also found pleasure in trying their luck at the various gaming establishments in Reno, Nevada.

In his untimely passing, Ray leaves his loving wife of forty-six years, Kathy, of Westwood; daughter, Danielle Alexander and husband Robbie, of Westwood; son, Brian Craig and wife Rebekah, of Augusta, Kansas; his mother in law, Anna Mae Giannotti, of Westwood; and was the proud grandparent to Cooper, Aubrielle and Alexa.

You are asked to bring your lawn chair and stories to share at a celebration of Ray’s life to be held 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 at the Westwood Park.

An opportunity to express your condolences to the family along with signing the memorial guest register is available online at fehrmanmortuary.com.