Craig, Raymond Walter

Raymond Walter Craig II was born in St. Louis, Missouri, August 29, 1946. He fondly remembered his early years, growing up in Maplewood, across from Sutton Elementary and exploring the River Des Peres. At the age of twelve, grandfather and baker, Rudy Bruder, arranged a weekend bakery job for Ray, leading to a lifelong career in the bakery industry. By age 21 he opened Craig’s Pastries on Gravois Rd. which led to being hired as the Bakery Specialist at Venture. But he had bigger plans. Ray’s goal was to run multiple bakeries. His next step was accepting a Bakery Trainer job at J.W. Allen, based out of Chicago. In-store bakery business, in its infancy, Ray was in on the ground floor. By now he had met and married wife of 45 years, Laura (Hemmer). They traveled to multiple states as Ray trained grocery owners and employees to set up and operate bakeries. His career would take him from Michigan to Tennessee and eventually Texas.

When J.W. Allen sold the largest ever in-store bakery to up-in-coming chain, Fiesta, the Houston owner made Ray an offer he couldn’t refuse. Eventually Ray would run 53 Fiesta bakeries cementing his name in the grocery industry. As one trade magazine article declared, “Ray Craig was the best and brightest”. For 30 years this was his dream job. After retiring, he decided to once again open his own bakery, American Donut, in Spring, Texas. An old-fashioned donut shop with state-of-the-art automatic glazer that allowed customers to, sit at the counter, watching, straight-from-the-fryer, donuts roll down the conveyor, glaze dripping, ready to eat.

But when his mother, Isabel Arms, neared 90 it was time to head back to the city of his roots, St. Louis and home to his daughters, Stephanie Mayse and Tina Catlett, along with six grandchildren: Tyler Catlett (wife Sarah), Macy Matheny (husband Jake), Mia and Gabby Catlett, Hannah Romine (husband Nick) and Alexandra Mayse. All of whom almost made up for the St. Louis winters he despised.

Ray married Laura in 1977. The pride and joy of his life, Chad, came along in 1983. He had been a young, first-time-around dad with his girls; so, he was very grateful for a second chance at fatherhood. Ray and Chad shared a love of Corvettes, Scouting, go-carts and a succession of increasingly bigger, faster ski boats, deck boats, to a 30’ twin-engine Trojan where he finally acquired the flybridge he always wanted.

From the early days, boating was a family event, with the girls on the Mississippi River then later Lake of the Ozarks, Kentucky Lake, Lake Conroe and off shore in the Gulf of Mexico. Chad and Ray also spent endless garage hours working on school, Scout, and Odyssey of the Mind projects, as well as all-nighters just talking. It was fitting that Chad would be the one holding his hand in the wee hours of the morning when God called him home.

Ray, a self-taught craftsman, was a carpenter, electrician, handyman, and architect. Rewire a house; got it. Build incredible treehouse and swing set; done.  Decks to custom wall units; no problem; as well as a thousand honey-do-projects for Laura done to perfection. He knew no other way.

With a Coke or Mountain Dew in hand, Ray is now with his mother, Isabel Arms, his sister-in-law Sharon (Atley) Hemmer, longtime friend and colleague, Roland Kuntz, and first wife, Linda Baker—where hopefully they can finally agree on one thing: the two, beautiful, wonderful daughters he and Linda brought into this world. His legacy will continue when Chad and Amanda Craig welcome their first child, in December and Macy and Jake Matheny welcome Ray’s first great-grandchild, expected in early 2023.

Visitation hours will be held Thursday, September 8, from 4:00-9:00, funeral service Friday, September 9, promptly at 1:00 PM. Affton Chapel 10151 Gravois, St. Louis, MO 63123. Procession and burial at Laurel Hills Cemetery to follow; concluding with family, neighbors, and friends invited to gather at his home, 557 Ridge Avenue in Webster Groves.

Please join us to remember a life well lived and a man well loved.