Elinor M. Craig

Elinor M. Craig, 89, originally of Bangor, Maine, and most recently of Rochester, New York, died peacefully in her sleep on May 27, 2020. She was born on March 29, 1931, to Hattie and Will Craig in Bangor. Elinor graduated from Bangor High School and Eastern Maine General Hospital School of Nursing in Bangor, as an R.N. She married the love of her life, Harley A. Craig, December of 1953 and they enjoyed 52 married years. They had five children Gary, Paul, Kathy, Robert and Janet. In addition to being a wonderful, caring, Christian stay at home mother while the children were little, she worked as a nurse at the former Eastern Maine General Hospital in Bangor, Cary Memorial Hospital in Caribou, Maine, the former Bangor Nursing Home on Mt. Hope Avenue, and as an office nurse for the late Dr. Roy Patten. Those who knew Elinor knew her faith was the most important part of her life, followed by the love of her family. She shared her faith liberally through her beautiful gift of vocal music at many of the churches in Maine and on the Souls Harbor TV Broadcast from Charleston, Maine. She recorded a collection of her favorites on an album, "Elinor's Favorite Gospel Songs." Elinor is survived by her children: Rev. Gary Stephen (Bonny) Craig of Charlotte, North Carolina; Dr. Paul (Elsa) Craig of Rochester, New York; Kathryn (Allyn) Ward of Pueblo West, Colorado; Harley Robert (Sharon) Craig of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Janet (Chris) Butland of Saco, Maine. She is also survived by her 20 grand children: Gary and Bonny's family: Brianna (Alex) Poulos, Mikayla (Travis) Eason, Julia (Mitch) Vinet, Jeremiah Craig, Abigail Craig, Jesse Craig and Joshua Craig; Paul and Elsa's family: Tim (Emily Ruth) Craig, William (Anna) Craig, Michael Craig, and Emily Louise Craig; Kathy and Allyn's family: Sarah (Matt) Falch, Ethan Ward and Peter Craig Ward; Harley Robert and Sharon's family: Becca (Jay) Alvarez, Rachel (David) Ammerman, James Robert (Emily) Craig, and Benjamin Harley (Natalie) Craig; and Janet Villa (Chris) Butland's family: Stephen Butland and Erin (Chase) Conklin. In addition, she has 10 (and counting) great-grandchildren: Gregory and Alexandria Poulos, Brooke Eason, Daniel and Samuel Vinet, Seth and Sean Craig, Elinor Jane Falch, and Violet and Jonah Ammerman. Elinor was preceded in death by her dear husband Harley, her parents, William Stavens and Hattie Villa (Smith) Craig, her brothers Robert and Stanley Craig sister, Villa Craig Mahlstedt, and granddaughters Alicia and Marie Craig, children of Harley Robert and Sharon Craig. A celebration of her life will be held at a later date with burial in Maine. Memorial donations may be made to Soul's Harbor Ministry at http://soulsharbor.tv/.

Elinor M. Craig

May 28, 2020