Grace Anne Craig

Grace Anne (Dean) Craig of Round Rock, TX, passed away July 25, 2017, at the age of 96, reuniting with her husband of 73 years, William E. (Bill) Craig, whom she has missed greatly since his passing in August 2016.

Grace Anne was born June 16, 1921, in Natrona, PA, to parents William and Florence Grace (Edmunds) Dean who have preceded her in death. Grace Anne is the last of her siblings Alice (Charles) Schmitt, William Dean in infancy, and John (Jack) Dean (Midge and Margaret) to pass away.

In 1939 Grace Anne graduated from Harbrack HS near Pittsburgh and attended Miss Conley’s Secretarial School in Shadyside, PA. She worked for Aetna Life as a secretary then worked one year for Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corporation where she met her future husband. In 1943 she married Bill and moved to Atlanta, GA, where she worked for the Army Corp of Engineers as a civilian secretary until July 1944.

After raising her three children Grace Anne returned to the work force as secretary to the Curriculum Coordinator of Fredonia Central Schools in NY, and finishing her professional life at Putnam Insurance Company in Dunkirk, NY.

She retired to Phoenix with her husband in 1982, where she became proficient in glass art (treasurer of the Ahwatukee Glass Art Club for a number of years), golfed, joined a bike club and exercise classes, played bridge, traveled and volunteered for several Fiesta Bowl Committees. She was an excellent seamstress and made many of her own and family’s clothes. Grace Anne faithfully kept in touch with friends and relatives, writing numerous letters and remembering special dates with a card. She also compiled family history, working on both the Craig and Dean genealogies.

In the spring of 2015 Grace Anne and Bill moved to Round Rock, TX; this was an uprooting move for them after 30+ years but worth it to be closer to family.

Grace Anne is survived by her two daughters, Penny Goering of Pflugerville, TX, and Sally Brunet (partner, John Christopher) of Kalamazoo, MI, and son, Bill (Susan McKenna) Craig of Fresno, CA; grandchildren Jessica Layne, Megan (Rick) Westerhoff, Lisa (Steve) Williams, Brandon Goering, Lauren (Kristen Barclay) Craig, Jenna Craig, and Katie Craig (fiancé, Fred Less); great-grandchildren Tony Westerhoff, Jack Westerhoff, and Elijah Maxedon. Grace Anne also had many nieces and nephews, grand and great-grand nieces and nephews who will miss her.

Cremation has taken place with urn burial at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, TX planned for 11 am, Friday, November 3, 2017. A Memorial Mass will be held at 10 am, Saturday, November 4, 2017, in the Chapel of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church in Pflugerville, TX. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Texas, www.txalz.org, in Grace Anne’s name.

Condolences and memories may be shared with Grace Anne’s family at www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com.

Arrangements by Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home, 14501 N. IH-35, Pflugerville, TX 78660. 512-251-4118.