After a valiant fight against cancer, James E. Craig, Jr., of Merritt Island, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022, surrounded by family. Jim was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., on Oct. 1, 1937.

Jim graduated from Lehman High School in Canton, Ohio, and Grove City College, in Grove City, Penn. He served on the Board of Directors for the Brevard Achievement Center and the United Way of Brevard.

Jim spent 25 years in department store management, including 20 years at Jordan Marsh of Florida. He had a second career in the newspaper business, serving 19 years in production management with Florida Today.

Jim was blessed to serve as the Pastor for Christ United Methodist Church family in Palm Bay and as one of the Pastors at Georgianna Church in Merritt Island, where he attended service and volunteered over the past several decades.

In his retirement, he also continued to serve the community through Guardian Ad Litem and Circles of Care as a child and patient advocate, respectively, and through his support of numerous charities.

Relationships were fundamental to Jim. Whether weekly lunches with longtime friends, visits with neighbors, or everyday chats with folks he came across, Jim felt everyone was special and took care to make sure they felt that way. He helped guide countless people through difficult times and while he was quick with an encouraging word, he’d also speak up when he thought you might not be on the right track.

Jim considered himself a work in progress and was a life-long learner. He was constantly reading multiple books, taught himself piano, and even took a drum lesson this summer, fulfilling a wish he’d had since he was a teenager.

Family times were always Jim’s favorite times. He’d travel long distances to spend holidays and special occasions with family and could often be seen at school and sporting events for his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Jim was preceded in death by his father, James E. Craig, and mother, Kathryn V. Craig; sister Margery Burkhardt; two special ladies, his ex-wife, Effie Craig and wife, Linda Craig. He’d also lost several dear friends, especially in recent years.

Jim is survived by his son, James M. Craig and daughter-in-law, Adriane; stepdaughter, Susie Norman and son-in-law, Jeff; stepson, Jim Ducharme and daughter-in-law, Vicki; and niece, Kari (and fiancé, Steve). Jim was known as ‘Poppy’ to five surviving grandsons: Connor Craig, Mark Porwet, Jason Norman, Alex Ducharme (and wife, Taylor), and Sean Norman, as well as to one granddaughter, Sabrina Shaw (and husband, Bobby). He was also blessed with four great grandchildren: Taylor Shaw, Tawnee Shaw, Kolt Porwet, and Kynlee Porwet.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at Georgianna United Methodist Church at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, with a reception at the church to follow. In keeping with Jim’s persistent positive outlook, please wear brightly colored clothes to the service (freshly ironed if you really want to honor him!).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Georgianna Church, the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home, or the Health First Hospice Foundation.