Thomas Craig Erderly

Thomas Craig Erderly was born August 13, 1948 in Baytown, Texas to Charles and Mary Grace Erderly. Always a free spirit, after high school he took some time off to follow the surf and live the beach bum lifestyle. Craig knew how to live life to the fullest, he loved laughing, surfing, and chasing, " hoochie mamas ".

He finally settled down to an extent, and married Carol Sue Miles and graduated from Lamar University with a Biology degree. He began his career as a Biology teacher and golf coach at Ball High School in Galveston, Texas. He was often seen taking his class on “field trips” to the beach to help further their educational experience.

Craig and Carol have three children, Shanna, Cole, and Suzanne. The family lived in Galveston till 1977, when they moved to Hallettsville, Texas. Craig got to try his hand at the farming life till 1980 when he and Carol decided to divorce. Craig decided to take this opportunity to change his career and tried his fortunes in Baytown, Texas working for Exxon Mobile as a chemical engineer designing plastics.

In 1982, on June 10th, during a happy hour at Jimmy Walker’s in Kemah, Texas, he met the love of his life, Kathleen Mary Cassady. After years of admiring her furniture and enjoying her cooking, they married in Vegas on April 2, 1983. The two love birds enjoyed traveling and throughout his career with Exxon, he was able to travel the world; including Costa Rica, Europe, and Mexico, but his heart was always out west.

In 1995, his love of the beach led to the purchase of a beach house in Galveston, Texas where the family had many wonderful get a ways and adventures, including sand crab hunting. In 2007, to be closer to the family, the two moved to Cedar Creek, Texas.

And after fighting the good fight, on January 4, 2018, at the age of 69, surrounded by family, listening to the Beach Boys, he caught the big wave to the perfect beach.

Craig is survived by his wife, Kathleen Mary Erderly; his children, Shanna Pace and her husband Phillip Pace, Miles Cole Erderly, Suzanne Wallace and her husband Jacob Wallace; grandchildren, Nicholas Howard, Zachary Pace, Noah Wallace, Isabelle Wallace; his brother, Charles Erderly and his wife Maxine Erderly; brothers-in-law, David Cassady and his wife Voncille Cassady and their family, Duane Cassady and his wife Sally Cassady and their family; his sisters, Sandra Lampkin, Lori Holland and her husband Stephen Holland and their family, Kimberly Johnson; sisters-in-law, Pearl Etzwiler and her husband Robert Etzwiler and their family, Jeanette Cassady; his nieces, Tammy Lampkin and Joni Mall and her husband Steve Mall; his great nephews, William Craig Lampkin and John Mall; his great nieces, Julie Mall and Megan Mall.

In lieu of flowers please make memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society in memory of Thomas Craig Erderly.

A celebration of Craig’s life will be held at the Erderly family home January 20, 2018 from 12:00 to 4:00.