Craig David Fowler

Craig David Fowler, aka as “Kicker” and to newer friends as “The Vest”, passed away at age 59, six months and one day. Craig died at home on August 3, 2016 in hospice care, surrounded in his last days by all of his family and many close friends. Craig had suffered a very brief and courageous battle, against significant odds, with primary liver cancer.

Craig was born in Everett in 1957. He was the second child, and oldest son, of Sherrill Joan Harrison and Robert Otto Fowler. Craig’s siblings include Vicky (Richard) Fowler Gaidrich of Olympia, Robert (Cathy) Fowler of Everett, and Melodye (Michael) Bowley of Lynnwood. Craig had other siblings that include Becky Jennings of Everett, Don Fowler and Bill Fowler, both of Aberdeen, as well as Richard Fowler and Shannon Fowler, both previously deceased.

Craig and his many siblings had what you would call an adventurous and relatively unsupervised childhood. The stories are endless but all centered in and around the Everett area. Hopefully, people will attend his service to share and hear stories that could not begin to be limited to one or two columns. From North Everett to the shores of Silver Lake and “Manmade Lake”, their adventures abound. Craig likes to lay claim to being the first kid at Eisenhower Middle School to be suspended and in protest of his suspension, the students had a sit-in. Craig attended Everett Schools, ultimately ending at Cascade High School in 9th grade. He attempted to go back in 10th grade but chose the option of being “All that he could be.”

Craig joined the US Army in 1974, going to Ft. Leonard Wood, MO and then Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. Craig had several good friends from those days and with whom he went overseas to Stuttgart, Germany. He enjoyed good years in Germany, having more fun than a body had a right to, and enjoyed many a beer and brat. He always marveled at the bierhaus history, some of them 700 years old, and availed himself of as much of that history as he could. Craig saw so many concerts overseas...as the new saying goes, “I might be old but I’ve seen all the cool bands”. Craig remembers he and his friends carrying in a friend with a broken leg and a cooler full of beer, to see The Who. He returned home after his few years in the service with background in fuel and electrical systems. His mother suggested that he apply at Boeing and that is all that it took.

If anyone know anything about Craig, they know that he was first and foremost a Boeing employee and his identity was enmeshed with Boeing. He hired on in April 1978 and worked up until he was medically laid off, and signed his retirement papers on July 29, 2016, five days before he died. He worked as a mechanic, then a lead and entered management. After ten years as a supervisor of the 747 Wing Stub Join, he entered the world of safety and disability management, work that he enjoyed as he got older and contemplated retirement. He left behind a great team and many old friends that remain, although many old timers like him are dwindling fast.

Craig married Valerie Plath and together they had Stacy, his oldest child, in 1983. They divorced a few years later. Craig married Catherine Brickman and they had their son Shawn in 1991. They divorced a few years after that. Craig met Margaret Rice online in 1996 in the early days of the internet. They married on Valentine’s Day 1998.

Craig and Margaret did many things together, some mundane, some more fun, some average, some exciting. They had a great respect for each other, and more quality as they grew in their lives together. Craig supported Margaret in her interests as a career and ultimately had a large hand in helping her to achieve her dreams in advocacy and self-employment. They were best friends, will always be, even though apart. Their dreams were shared dreams and neither wished to be in other company more than being with each other.

Craig took pride in being a simple man, there was nothing frivolous or fancy about him. He did what he felt men are supposed to do. He was frugal to a fault, rarely treated himself but learned to over the years. He lived in his neighbourhood so long and kids in the neighbourhood knew who to take their bikes to to be fixed, even though he was often gruff and crabby with them. He did not like to use many words, he did not like excuses. He was a quiet man and did not say much but when he did speak, people listened.

We could list his recognitions and his awards but he would not want us to do that. He was a simple man, a humble man, and he would downplay a lot of what he accomplished as being “what I am supposed to do.”

Craig lived in Everett, save Germany, all of his life. He stated that after Germany, he had no wanderlust. He was a “five mile radius” kind of guy. Everything he needed was within five miles. He lived in his grandparent’s home, which he bought from his grandmother in 1989. This house is four miles from the factory. Albertson’s, Walgreens and Sears were the only other places he would go regularly. If he couldn’t go in the Sears entrance at the tool section due to lack of parking, he would leave and go another day.

Craig enjoyed fishing with his “brother from another mother”, Joe, who was also his neighbour. They would crab, shrimp and fish and did so for years. While he had his own boat, he much preferred to be in the company of friends in the neighbour’s boat while fishing and always enjoyed his time out on the water. He loved the Puget Sound; part of the reason that he did not enjoy being away from it. He lamented vigorously the lack of salmon over the last number of years, as in years before, he could easily fill a shelf in the freezer.

Craig bought his first motorcycle at 11, something that did not sit well with his mother. With that began his long history of love for motorcycles and riding. He had several bikes throughout the years, finally having the Ultra Classic that he rode with his wife. They rode mostly shorter rides together but in 2006, he did make the trip to Sturgis, something he had hoped to repeat. Over the last couple of years, he rode with several good friends and his brother on a few trips, including Montana and California. Some of their favourite places were the Pilchuck Yacht Club in Machias, Stewart’s in Snohomish, Conway Pub in Conway, The Stump, The Spar Tree in Granite Falls and beyond.

Another great love of Craig’s was camping and enjoyed his favourite campground, Gold Basin. It was hard to get him to tent camp anywhere else. Over the last number of years, his wife and he would take their 1973 Ideal trailer and camp during the winter and the summer. The trailer was so popular that it has been used as a clubhouse of sorts, and on one occasion, served as the Christmas venue when power was lost on Christmas Day.

Craig is survived by his wife, Margaret (Rice) Fowler, his daughter, Stacy Fowler of Smokey Point, and his son, Shawn Fowler of Camano Island. Craig had two stepchildren, who he never referred to as anything but his children, Jason Engle and Olivia Engle, both of Everett. He was very proud of his children, and always being there to help, even if there was typically a stern lecture or talking to in the process. He stepped in as a father to the other two children in 1996 and supported them and loved all four equally. That is simply what he did. Craig had the pleasure of having one terrific grandchild, Benjamin, who was a pleasure to have every week and with whom he shared a love of trains.

Craig loved everything about the Northwest, literally everything. He especially loved the Seahawks and he and his wife spent years together watching every game with their neighbours. When we had to leave and be away during football season, we wore our jerseys and watched the game where we were. There were shots for all the points, and Margaret did not enjoy the really big wins where the Hawks won by a large margin. One of Craig’s greatest joys was seeing the Hawks win the Superbowl on his birthday.

As stated, Craig was a simple man, worked hard and religiously. You could set your clock to him. You learned not to have laundry in the laundry room on Mondays because that is when he did his. There was a process to everything he did and you should not only not question it but you should probably be taking notes and learn where to improve yourself.

Craig loved music almost as much as anything else. His favorite group was The Beatles and he simply loved it all. He played the guitar and was enthusiastic about it. He always took his guitar camping, and if his brother happened to be along, they would play together. Sometimes it was very entertaining and musical and sometimes, it served merely to keep other campers and wild animals away. Craig frequently got dinged in security lines for the random harmonica.

Craig wanted to retire but always found a reason not to do it. Over the last year or so, he wanted to get his truck paid off before he retired. When he received the devastating news of hepatocellular carcinoma on May 2, 2016, he did not realize that he would need to retire until he physically could not go to work. His options for cancer treatment were significantly limited due to his chronic liver condition and the chemotherapy pill did not work in the end. He was looking forward to trying the immunotherapy in August. He received his last paycheck in mid-July, which worried him tremendously, not knowing when his retirement was going to actually start. He ended up in the hospital on July 17th at the UWMC in Seattle and ultimately, never returned home until he received the news on July 29th that there was nothing more that they could do. His kidneys had begun to fail and that was it. Margaret decided that she was taking Craig home, much to his relief and what he wanted most of all. He came home on Sunday, July 31st and passed away beside his wife during the night on August 3rd. All of his family was nearby and had been with him constantly since he came home.

Margaret wishes to thank everyone, and will ultimately forget someone without meaning to: those at Boeing, IAM Union members, UWMC hematology oncology, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Providence Hospice, Sporty’s owners and most of all, her in-laws. The support of the days in hospice by the family alone for her is, and was immeasurable and for the continued support even as they lose their brother. Margaret also wishes to thank the long-time friend of Craig’s, Janine Dawson, for all of the support in helping her to simply think straight over the last few days of Craig’s life, even through her own grief in losing her friend.

The celebration of Craig’s life will be held at Evergreen Funeral Home on Broadway in Everett on August 20, 2016. It would be Craig’s desire to have attendees dress in their favorite Seahawks attire, Harley Davidson attire, Hawaiian shirt and as anything as fun as you can make it. Please come and share a story that you have about Craig – everyone has at least one. Do not think of this as a service but a sharing and proper send off to a man who could not enjoy his retirement and deserves one of the best send offs there could be.

For those that wish to ride in the memorial procession/run, please contact the funeral home.

There will be a reception after the service at the funeral home and all are welcome to stay.

There will be no interment. There will be a plaque dedication at Sporty’s Beef and Brew, where Craig and Margaret spent their Wednesday happy hour each week, and it will be placed at the spot where Craig always sat. Information on this small dedication can be learned from Margaret.

Arrangements under the direction of Evergreen Funeral Home, Everett, WA.