Helen L. Craig

Helen Craig passed away June 25th at Evenings Porch Assisted Living Home. She was one week shy of her 98th birthday. She was born July 2, 1926 in Kansas City, Kansas. Her family moved to Santa Paula, California soon after, and she spent her youth there. While in high school during World War II, she and her best friend volunteered on weekends as civilian plane spotters. They would report all plane sightings to the military, as there was a fear of Japanese attack on the coast during the war. After high school, she took flying lessons and learned to fly in an old fabric covered Aeronca airplane. At the same time, she took photography classes, and used that skill later in life when working for LaPlata Abstract in Durango. She came to Durango in 1946 to visit her uncle, Curt Owens, who owned Trimble Hot Springs Resort at the time. While there, she met local rancher Bill Craig. A romance ensued, and they were later married. She spent the rest of her life in the Durango area except for a brief period when she moved back to California to be near her youngest son. She was preceded in death by her husband Bill, her parents Leon and Golden Stafford, her brother Jerry Stafford, step-daughter Billie Jean Tankersly, and nephews Bill Kelly and Curt Stafford. She is survived by her sons Philip (Debi), Timothy, and Matthew Craig, brother Curtis Stafford, sister Nancy Kelly, six grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. 

There will be no service at her request. A small family memorial will be held at a later date.