On Thursday, January 26, 2017, Neil Joseph Craft, 81, died peacefully in his Moab home after a three-year struggle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loving wife, two daughters and CNS Hospice.
Neil was born on January 13, 1936, in Plummer, Minnesota, to Gust and Loretta Craft of Fargo, North Dakota. Neil married the love of his life, Pat Anglin and had been happily married for 41 years. Neil was preceded in death by his parents Gust and Loretta; son Scot Willey; and daughter Cherie Lyn (twin). He is survived by his wife Pat; daughter Raylene (Ken Moore); son Kevin; and daughter Brandi (twin); brother Dale (Patty), who have maintained an incredible bond despite the miles between them; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He had a very special relationship with his youngest grandchild, Chandler McDougal. Every summer, they would go swimming, along with many other adventures. Chandler bought his grandpa a “superhero” blanket when we found out about the cancer – it was cherished and used until his final moments.
Neil proudly served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. Neil and Pat ran The Midway Bar & Cafe in West Valley City together for many years. He believed in affordable living expenses, so they moved to Moab, where they owned and operated the Edge of the Desert trailer park for 20 years while raising their youngest daughter. Neil was a very social man and had many friends in Salt Lake City, Moab and Beaver Dam, where they were spending many months in the last years of his life. He enjoyed taking his daughters to show them off to his friends.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, February 4, at 1 p.m. at the VFW in Moab. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in his honor to the VFW to honor future vets.
Honorary pallbearers: Ken Moore, Kenny Moore, Anthony Moore, Patrick Moore, Brandon Willey, Bryan Andrew, Kortnee Willey, Chandler McDougal, Kelly Hinckley, Craig Hinckley.
“You will be missed Daddy!”
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.SpanishValleyMortuary.com.
