Cheryl Lynn Craig (73) of Clinton, MO passed away in her home on February 12, 2023. Cheryl was born in Decatur, IL on June 17, 1949 to Evelyn and Harvey Gaskill. She graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. She specialized in Blind and Partially Sighted and taught braille in the Decatur, IL area following graduation.
She married Phillip Craig on April 21, 1973 at Grace United Methodist Church in Decatur, IL.
Cheryl worked as a Kindergarten teacher in Geneseo, KS. She and Phil moved the family to Clinton, MO in 1988 where she taught Special Education at Lakeland High School.
In December of 1990 she took the position of Executive Director of Share and Care until she retired in December of 2015. She continued to be on the Board of Directors until her death. During her 25 years as Director of Share and Care she was instrumental in building an outstanding service and meeting the needs of clients. She received the Champion of Change award in 1998 by the Institute for Community Health Leadership for commitment and dedication to promote, maintain and improve the overall health status of the community. She was a part of a transition team bringing First Steps to the area in 2002. In 2011, she led the charge in bringing the first adolescent behavior group home to the state of Missouri; tying the State of MO Children’s Division and the Dept of Mental Health for the first time in the state. Cheryl also served on several committees at the Department of Mental Health Regional Offices including Joplin, Kansas City and Springfield. She was a very active member of PASS – Provider Association of Support Services. Her employees loved her and have said she was so much more than a boss.
She had a lifetime hobby for sewing, not only as a seamstress but also as a talented quilter. She was a member of the Greater Golden Valley Quilt Guild for more than 20 years, serving as president at one time. She was one of the longest active members to date. After running a mail-order fabric shop out of her home for 4 years, she asked Mary Cupp to join her in a partnership and opened the White Flower Quilt Shop in November 2016. Two years later, they were the 2018 Business of the Year. Cheryl was awarded the 2019 Clinton Mainstreet Downtown Champion. In 2020, when the world was shutting down, during the pandemic the Quilt Shop grew! Customers were wanting things to do at home and the need for masks was a must. Her talent and passion for helping others was evident when Golden Valley Memorial Hospital called for a need for surgical gowns and masks. As a team, Cheryl and Mary sewed 30 surgical gowns by the end of the day. In addition, over the next few weeks, they orchestrated the shop as a drop zone for masks. Over 2500 masks were made and donated. Her love of teaching was always present as she taught many classes at the beginner and advanced levels. Including, completing many projects with her grandchildren.
She often combined her two favorite hobbies of sewing and shopping as she worked on projects while watching the QVC shopping network. She loved to shop for the latest gadgets and the best deals for herself and her daughters.
Cheryl is survived by her husband of nearly 50 years of the home, Phil Craig, three amazing, beautiful daughters --Alexa Thompson, Emily (Brad) Combs, Andrea (JJ) Schmidt each one of them being her favorite and six grandchildren Quintin & Carley Combs, Foster and Dexton Thompson, Kimber and Allie Schmidt, her brother and sister in-law David (Christine) Craig of Clinton and nieces and nephew Ryann Craig, Laura Saathoff and John Craig, and her business partner and best friend, Mary Cupp. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her sister Cathy Gaskill.
Celebration of Life services were held March 2, 2023 at the Vansant-Mills Chapel, Clinton with Pastor Derry Gibson officiating. Special music included “Angel Band and The River.”
Services were under the direction of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, MO.
