Lillian Grace Thomas Craig

Lillian Grace Thomas Craig of Oklahoma City went peacefully into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on April 25, 2014 at the OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma surrounded and comforted by her loving family after a brief illness.

Lillian was born in Braggs, Oklahoma on March 29, 1917 to Isaiah and Hazel Thomas. She loved and honored them both beyond comprehension. Lillian was blessed with four siblings, Billy Thomas of Braggs, Oklahoma, three sisters, Odette Munzenrider, and Inez Hamby of Braggs, Oklahoma and Betty Sharp of Fort Smith, Arkansas. They willingly shared and enjoyed a rare and intense bond of love and respect for each other as children into adulthood that remained until their deaths.

Lillian lived in Braggs Oklahoma throughout her childhood and attended the 49 School and later Braggs High School. As a young adult she attended the NYA School located in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. During World War ll she worked at The School for The Blind in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

Lillian was joined in marriage on January 5, 1948 to Clyde Hunter Craig. They resided in Braggs until they relocated to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1952. They had five children, Dewey, Kay, Larry Joe, Gregory, and Cynthia. They were married until Clyde’s death on December 8, 1983. As the matriarch of our family Lillian was a homemaker until her employment began as a seamstress in the alterations department at John A. Brown & Company in 1964. She was a skilled seamstress and could look at a garment and replicate it perfectly without a pattern. Sewing began a passion for her that resulted in homemade dresses for her daughters and shirts for her sons and included many household projects. Her other passions included gardening, her rose bushes, cooking, and she was a consummate reader and found great comfort in the Word of God. As evidenced by its tattered pages most anytime you would find her quietly reading her Bible.

Lillian’s middle name fit her perfectly for she was full of grace and she felt it was a special blessing to be named Grace.

Lillian had quiet strength in the toughest of circumstances and possessed resilience beyond understanding. She was full of love and compassion for all people and was gentle and kind to everyone she met. Lillian’s greatest gift was the love she bestowed onto her children and the joy she found in her faith in Jesus Christ, her husband, five children, and later their spouses, her grandchildren, great grandchildren and many friends and extended family. Lillian was the most devoted wife and loving mother that we could ever have been blessed with. She loved her birthday celebrations and family dinners where she was always the guest of honor.

Lillian is survived by her five children; Dewey {Janice} of Oklahoma City, Kay {Rick} of Urbandale, Iowa, Larry Joe of Oklahoma City, Gregory {Shannon} of Oklahoma City, Cynthia of Oklahoma City, and Danna of Moore, Oklahoma. Grandchildren; David H. Nickell ll {Diane} of West Des Moines, Iowa, Dewey Edward Craig Jr. of Oklahoma City, Ryan Craig of Oklahoma City, Brent Nickell {Amanda} of Urbandale, Iowa, Lori Wampler {Sam} of Moore, Oklahoma, Lisa Craig {Greg} of Oklahoma City, and Amanda Fox {Tim} of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Great Grandchildren; Connor Craig, Brennon Craig, Caitlin Berry, Karlee Craig, Gage Wampler, Ezra Hodges, Caleb Wampler, Gracie McConnell, and Andrew Nickell and special nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at the Del City Church of Christ. Interment will follow at Arlington Memory Gardens. Condolences may be offered at wwww.eisenhourfuneral.com