Craig Richard Longfield

Craig was born on December 5, 1963, the second son to Mark and Nancy Longfield. He grew up in Rochester Hills, Michigan, a hometown that always felt warm and familiar to Craig. He graduated from Rochester High School in 1982. From early on, Craig appreciated finding places that he could call his own – places where he felt at home. In high school, his friends knew they could usually find Craig at the local Big Boy restaurant, drinking endless cups of coffee for 50 cents, because he was at home there; it was “his” place.

As a young man, Craig met and was mentored by Chris Boyle, who started Craig on his path to being a master welder. Typical of Craig, he saw welding as more than just joining pieces of metal together; he saw the entirety of the project he was creating and preferred to be called a metal fabricator because he did not just weld; he built things. Starting in his teens, Craig learned fabricating, work ethic, and business ethics from Mr. Boyle and he never stopped learning and improving. Craig recognized and honored the complexity, artistry, and value of the craft of metal fabricating. Every employer who was fortunate enough to have Craig work for them called Craig their best and he was sought after because of his excellence and because he could be trusted. Craig specialized in various types of welding throughout his career, learning to understand the metallurgy and nuances of each project. He was also a proficient machinist. For many years, if you saw an overhead highway informational sign in Michigan, chances are it was fabricated by Craig. He earned his reputation as a master metal fabricator but was constantly humble in his attitude, believing there was always more he could learn.

Mr. Boyle’s complex was rented to many artists and skilled craftsmen; Craig took residency in a loft living area for many years. The property was dubbed “Boyleville” and Craig was affectionately referred to as the mayor. It was another place that Craig called his own – a place where he felt at home. He and some of his friends grew into the men they became at Boyleville. Sometimes they would get into mischief, sometimes they would test their boundaries, sometimes they would just hang-out, but always they knew they were in a place they were welcome. Craig thrived in some ways at Boyleville, but floundered in other ways -- until he met Carol.

It was at a sweat lodge gathering at Boyleville that Craig met Carol — the woman who would love him and that he would love forever. She knew immediately that there was something different and intriguing about Craig and he knew immediately that there was something very special about Carol. He would say often that he wanted to only be married once in his life, so he needed the woman right for him, and there was Carol across the campfire; the perfect woman for him. They saw in each other the greatest aspects of who they were, and they cherished each other. With Carol, Craig found the place and the person with whom he would make his greatest home. He no longer floundered. Carol anchored him in unconditional love, and he returned the same to her. They dated for over six years before they were married under the oak tree in a corner of their backyard, with their best friends at their sides and surrounded by friends and family. They would have been married 25 years in October 2023. Craig always wore his wedding band with pride as it represented the commitment, devotion, and love that he and Carol shared, and he wanted the whole world to know it.

Craig was a man of many facets: sentimental, artistic, straightforward, honest, patient, inquisitive, and generous, just to name a few. A few friends and family are lucky to have metalworks created by Craig, which are beautiful pieces demonstrating his skill and artistry. Anyone who knew Craig would regularly hear him say “the truth is the truth” and he meant it. He was honest and forthright.

Since childhood, Craig forged deep, long-lasting friendships that lasted a lifetime. One of his closest friends he met in kindergarten. He met another in middle school and became good friends. Friends he knew in Boyleville stayed part of his life to his last day. He had a natural character for honesty and loyalty; he sought out and maintained friendships with people who had those same qualities. He bonded with his friends over their shared interests, including industrial art, engineering, mechanics, and music.

In June 2017, Craig was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. The news was devastating, but Craig and Carol faced the arduous journey together. Craig, loving and trusting Carol with his very life, put the details of the battle in her hands and he concentrated on enduring treatments. Carol cared for Craig every step of the way; she made sure Craig was able to focus on his health. They loved each other through the journey together, facing each new obstacle with dignity and determination. And when Craig could not do for himself, his dear friends and neighbors would come to help. Craig and Carol hosted “lumberjack parties” at which his friends would gather to saw, split and stack wood so that Craig could heat their house. Neighbors would make sure that their yard was mowed, and their drive was plowed. And for a very long time it seemed that Craig was going to be able to live with cancer for many years to come, but that was not to be.

Although Craig’s battle against cancer began in 2017, his death came unexpectedly quickly. With the constant care of Carol and the exceptional treatment from his oncologist Dr. Sobilo, Craig lived with and fought cancer for 6 years. But then on March 7, 2023, he was admitted to the hospital with the expectation that he would be treated for non-cancer-related issues and released to continue the fight. But the cancer would no longer be held at bay.

In his last days, Craig was able to enjoy time with friends and Family such as Todd, Dale, Andy, Pete, Aaron, Mike, and Bill, just to name a few: sharing memories, laughing, and being cared for by those men in ways that demonstrated the beauty of true friendship and the generosity of their spirits. He was able to tell his mom the hardest thing he ever had to tell her - that he was dying - and remind her how much he loved her and always would. He was able to love and be loved by Carol. She rarely left his side, making sure that he was well cared for and wanted for nothing. Craig was not ready to leave this world and spent time giving Carol advice about how to go on without him. Carol was the one-woman Craig chose to love and devote his life to and she to him. It was with Carol at his side, holding his hand, that Craig took his last breath and was called to join his dad and God in heaven.

Craig is survived by his wife, Carol; his mother, Nancy Longfield (of Hohenwald, TN), his brother Kevin (Teresa) Longfield (and their two daughters); his brothers-in-laws Richard (Rose) Vogan and David Vogan; his nephew Trevor Vogan; and his niece Taryn (Ronnie) Bohrer.

A Memorial service will be held at Oakview Cemetery in Royal Oak on Friday, April 28th @10:00 am, when those who loved Craig and whom he loved can come together in the season of renewal to celebrate Craig and share their memories. Luncheon following the service will be announced.

This service will be shared with Carol’s mom, Frances Vogan, who passed November of 2022.