A "free spirit" is often described as someone who is unconventional, independent, and unafraid to live life on their own terms, embracing individuality and authenticity. They are not confined by society's norms and often forge their own paths. This fit Steve to a "T".
Steve believed in living life large. He was an endless wealth of knowledge about every genre of music and could provide an unprecedented history of the top twenty songs for every week. He particularly loved studying the Bobby Bones weekly Country music countdown. Never meeting any ethnicity of food he did not love, he enjoyed trying new food dishes, especially desserts. Steve's talents were also evident in his love and knowledge of flowers. He could provide you with the names, classifications and proper care for hundreds of varieties. Besides his fun-loving spirit for celebrating any holiday with his family, his favorite interest was his love of all animals, especially cats. Steve never met a stranger and was known by an abundance of people he called friends.
Born in 1961, Stephen Jeffrey Craft, was a lifelong resident of Mansfield, Ohio. He graduated from Fredericktown High School in 1979 and went on to find happiness in the simpler joys of life and was never defined by societies’ expectations. Steve earned his wings on Friday, July 25, 2025.
He was proceeded in death by the love of his life, wife, Marilyn Craft; three sisters, Linda G. Craft (Mansfield, OH), Mary Rowe (Vanceburg, KY), and Loretta Holbrook (Mansfield, OH); father, Raymond Bivens; maternal grandparents, Troy and Virginia "Marie" Holbrook; and paternal grandfather and step grandmother, Frank and Ruby Bivens (Vanceburg, KY).
He is survived by his mother, Corrine Bivens; brothers, John "Mitch" (Susanne) Craft of Shelby, Ohio, Robert L. Craft, Gregory (Barbara) Bivens of Mansfield , Raymond Bivens Jr.(Portsmouth, OH), and Tony (Cindy Simmons-Craft) Craft of Fort Worth, TX; sisters, Betty Rowe (Garrison, KY), Brenda Dearing (Flemingsburg, KY), Karen (Jerry Dewitt) Bivens (Mansfield, OH), and Angie (Rich) Eichinger (Ashland, OH); several aunts, uncles, nieces , nephews, and cousins, too many to name. Steve also left his beloved cat, Cedric.
A private celebration of life will be planned at a later date, per Steve's request, where he will still be the center of surprises and life of the party. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Steve's honor may be made to the Ashland Cat Sanctuary https://share.google/uxENYiJ9exNWyHFsG or the Mansfield Men's Gardening Club.
Wappner Funeral Directors-Mansfield is honored to serve the Craft family.
