Craig Manuel Contreras

Craig Manuel Contreras We love you, Papa Bear! It is with great sadness in our hearts that we share the passing of our loving husband, father, son, brother, and uncle, Craig Manuel Contreras. He passed away January 26, 2016. Craig was born December 12, 1963, in Woodland, Calif. and graduated from Woodland High School in 1983. He went on to attend and graduate from Southern Oregon University, where he met his lovely wife, Gladys Sibauste de Contreras. Craig and Gladys were blessed with three children, Xenia Soledad Alison Contreras, Juan Manuel Contreras, and Craig Manuel Contreras Jr. Craig excelled in many sports throughout his life. Craig’s favorite sport was football but he also played baseball, basketball, and softball. Many of the teams he coached and played for, won championship games. In addition to coaching youth sports teams, Craig coached football at Southern Oregon University, Ashland High School, Crater High School, and North and South Medford High Schools. As a football coach, Craig taught the fundamentals of being on the line but realized his greater calling was teaching young athletes values that reached far beyond the field. He was most recently the offensive line coach for South Medford High School and had the pleasure of coaching his own children, and many nieces and nephews. Craig found pure joy in watching his kids play sports. He also loved to fish and spent many weekends at Howard Prairie or on the Rogue River fishing for trout, steelhead, and salmon. Craig had a successful career as a parole/probation supervisor for Oregon Youth Authority beginning in 1996. Craig mentored countless youth while working in juvenile justice. Many of these youth have expressed their gratitude for his guidance and influence. Throughout his professional career and coaching, Craig made many friends whom he considered family. In addition to his wife and children, Craig is survived by his parents, Manny and Marj Contreras, sister Marcie Contreras-Cole (Richard), brother Erick Contreras, sister Jodi Contreras Hundley (Todd), nephews Matthew Cole and Derick Cole, father-in-law Carlos A. Sibauste, mother-in-law Myrna B. de Sibauste, sister-in-law Janelle M. Sibauste, uncle Joe Contreras (Colleen), uncle Darryl Nelson, many cousins, and dear friends. A private, family funeral Mass for Craig will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 19, 2016 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 517 W. 10th Street, Medford, Oregon 97501. A public celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 20, 2016 at Central Medford High School’s auditorium, 815 S. Oakdale, Medford, Oregon 97501. In lieu of flowers, the Contreras family would appreciate guests bringing a favorite written memory of Craig, so that his family may create a memory book. If you would like to mail your written memory, please send it to: Contreras Family, c/o Sara Johnson, 609 W. 10th Street, Medford, Oregon 97501. In addition, the Contreras family is accepting donations on behalf of the Craig Contreras Memorial Fund, c/o Sara Johnson, 609 W. 10th Street, Medford, Oregon 97501, to support a memorial at Spiegelberg Stadium.