Alice Picton Craig

Alice Picton Craig passed away in Houston on Sunday, the 9th of September 2018, surrounded by family after a brief illness. Alice was born on the 15th of November 1923 the fourth of six daughters to Martha Nance and David Means Picton, Jr. She attended River Oaks Elementary and Lanier Jr. High, graduating in 1941 from Lamar High School, and in 1945 from Rice Institute. She met Air Force Cadet Colonel Doug Craig at Ellington Field in 1941. Their courtship led to marriage in February 1943 in El Paso where Doug had been transferred to continue his training. Alice then returned to Rice to finish her education, while Doug completed his tour in the Pacific Theater of WWII, stationed in Australia.

In August of 2011, at age 87, Alice was honored to play a part in a WWII documentary about the historic bombing mission which Doug flew from Darwin, Australia to Balikpapan, Borneo in 1943. FactNotFiction Films of England flew her to a remote part of Northwest Australia to the very strip of beach where Doug crash landed his B-24 bomber, the “Shady Lady”, before being rescued by local aborigines. While she was in Australia, Alice was honored to accept the re-issue of the Presidential Unit Citation previously awarded to the Aircraft Commander and Crew of the “Shady Lady” from the US Embassy in a private ceremony.

Being a fifth generation Texan, Alice’s interest in family history and genealogy led to membership in the D.A.R, Colonial Dames of America, First Families of Texas and other similar organizations. She was an early and longtime member of Bayou Bend Docents Organization. Her large and extended family was always most important in her life; and, she also enjoyed community activities through the River Oaks Garden Club and the Junior League, as well as golf and lunch with friends at Houston Country Club. Her favorite childhood memories were summer vacations spent swimming and riding horses at her grandparents’ home in Rockport and at the ranch in Kyle, Texas. As one of her neighbors said of her, Alice was even more beautiful on the inside than she was on the outside. Alice was loved by many – she will always be remembered for her beautiful smile, her grace and her kindness to others.

Alice was predeceased by her husband, Douglas Stirling Craig, her son, David Picton Craig, and four sisters and five brothers-in-law: Martha Ann and Jess Hines, Lida and Harvey Suttles, Harry Wise, Ellen and R. Lee Chance, and Julia and Bass Wallace. She is survived by her sister, Grace Picton Wise; children: Douglas S. Craig, Jr. (Elizabeth), Martha P. Craig, and George L. Craig (Elizabeth); daughter-in-law, Carol C. Craig; grandchildren: Katherine C. Chambers (Rick), E. Stirling Fusi (Stefano), Savannah C. Pollard (Jay), Charles D. Craig (Gayatri), and George L. Craig III, Kristen E. Martin, and Melanie L. Martin; as well as great-grandchildren: Stirling, Marion and Peyton Chambers, Stefano Fusi, and Meera Craig.

A memorial service is to be conducted at eleven o’clock in the morning on Monday, the 24th of September, at The Church of St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Blvd in Houston, where the Rev. Dr. Clay Lein, Rector, is to officiate.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent Sumners Hall.

For those desiring, memorial contributions may be directed to The Church of St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Blvd, Houston, TX 77019, Bayou Bend Gardens Endowment, P.O. Box 6826, Houston, TX 77265-6826; or to the charity of one’s choice.