Raymond Mershon Craig

Raymond Mershon Craig, Jr., 91, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, widower of Mollie Miller Peele Craig, died Thursday, September 28, 2017. His memorial service will be held October 1, 2017, at 4:00 pm in the J. HENRY STUHR, INC., MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL.

Following an extended period of Alzheimer's and other complications, our "tough as nails" father, Ray, passed away last night; peacefully and without pain. He joins our Mother, the love of his life for more than a half of a century, and is surrounded in heaven by his incredible mother and father, along with so many other loved ones.

Raymond was born October 28, 1925 in Miami, FL, the eldest son of the late Raymond Mershon Craig, Sr. and Louise Electra Johns Craig; he was also the stepson of the late Rosa Lena Craig.

Raymond graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and the University of Miami, first with a degree in Business Administration and then found his passion in Electrical Engineering. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. As a young man he enjoyed water skiing, "HAM" radio, photography and learning about anything and everything. Raymond was also a master chess and backgammon player and a ballroom dance instructor. He was an Electrical Engineer-Research Scientist with IBM until retiring. In the early 1960's, the family moved to Yorktown Heights, NY where Ray's boss invited them to a little Nazarene church. Very soon after starting to attend, Raymond and Mollie gave their lives to the Lord and began serving Him in earnest. Ray was on the Church Board for many years and his electronic expertise was a valuable asset to multiple new and growing churches. Ray and Mollie were members of North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene in Raleigh, NC for over 30 years. After Mollie's death, Ray moved to Mt. Pleasant to be near his daughters and 3 grandsons and attended East Cooper Baptist Church. Throughout the remainder of his life, Ray was a shining witness of Christ's love for us all and the Holy Spirit's power in our lives.

He is survived by two daughters: Ramona "Mona" Mollie Basham of Charleston, SC and Victoria "Tori" Rose Craig Vinzani (Jeff) of Mount Pleasant, SC; one son, Raymond "Shon" Mershon Craig III ( Sharyn) of Holiday, FL; two brothers: David John Craig (Patricia) of Titusville, FL and Bruce Allen Craig (Diane) of Newport Beach, CA; two sisters: Louise Electra Stiles of Waynesboro, TN and Nanette Ramona Smith of Daytona Beach, FL; and six grandchildren: Justin Aric Basham (fiancee, Paige) of Edgar Springs, MO, Shawn Thomas Craig of Park City, UT ( Jane), Ryan Patrick Craig of Park City, UT, Spencer Bradley Wright of Hong Kong, Michael Jeffrey Vinzani, Jr. of Columbia, SC, Jackson Dominic Vinzani of Mt Pleasant, SC; and one great-grandchild, Arys James Basham of Edgar Springs, MO, who was born on Raymond's 91st birthday.

He is predeceased by his brother: Donald Henry Craig; and his sister Polly Rae Johns Patterson.

Memorials may be made to East Cooper Baptist Church Craig Memorial Fund, 361 Egypt Road, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464.