Curtis Randall Craft

WEST COLUMBIA – Funeral services for Curtis “Randy” Craft, 58, will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 9, 2017 at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel. The family requests casual dress. Visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 8, 2017 at the funeral home.

Mr. Craft was born December 19, 1958 in Columbia, SC and passed away on Thursday, July 6, 2017. He was the son of Archie “Sonny” (deceased) and Estelle Craft (Matt Becker). Mr. Craft was an electrical maintenance engineer and retired from Caterpillar, Inc.

He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Shanna L. Craft; sons, Josh Craft (Angela), Ashley Craft and C. J. Craft; step-sons, Joey Goings (Michelle) and Adam Goings (Amanda); eight grandchildren; sisters, Joy Cooper (Mike) and Eve Hipp (Chuck) as well as his beloved nieces and nephew

Which Ride?

We are standing here

Waiting to climb on board.

We are blindfolded

And don't know which ride we will get on –

Will it be the rollercoaster or the merry-go-round?

Only time will tell.

No matter which ride He puts us on

We will be steadfast in our faith.

The rollercoaster is the ride we're on - we're climbing up the highest hill we've ever felt. As scary as this ride will be, we know He will bring us safely through every curve, every twist, and every hill we encounter.

Just as we were coming to a screeching halt, to what we thought was the end of the scariest rollercoaster ride ever, we started up the steepest, highest hill - beyond imagination. We held our breath as we came to the top and then plummeted at lightning speed around twists and turns but, still, the Maker is in total control. We hang on tight, close our eyes, thank Him for holding us, and continue to what looks to be the unloading area. Wrong! We plunge into darkness;

We can’t see what is ahead.

The hills we are climbing are the longest ever – slowly, slowly, ever so slowly chugging our way to the top. And then, still in the darkness, we spiral downward – it’s so hard to hang on! The only thing that keeps us from flying out is His hands – holding us with the gentlest touch. We know, without a doubt, we will come back into the light and that this rollercoaster ride will soon come to an end. He told us so!

And…..there is a campground waiting for us!!!

Just as we start coming out of that last spiral, although we were both holding on so tight, you flew right out of that ride – spinning and turning, upward, floating, flying with Jesus, hand in hand, entering into the Promised Land, angels singing their welcoming song! You, Randy Craft, had the perfect ending to the scariest ride I’ve ever been on! Rest in Peace, my love – Rest!!!!

And give Ma a huge hug from me!!!!

Oh yeah….look for my brother, Allen, by that little stream he told us about!!! Sounds like it would be a wonderful place to camp!

Love, love, love!!!

Written by

Shanna Lynn Craft

over several years during a journey through the battle of cancer