Craig Villareal

DAVID CRAIG VILLAREAL, of Plano, Texas, passed away on November 10, 2024 in Allen, Texas. He was born on May 8, 1961, in Houston, Texas to David & Shirley Villareal. Craig is survived by his mother Shirley Villareal-Obert and stepfather, Don Obert of Plano, Texas; and his siblings: Andrea Jones Villareal (Jim Piunti) of Fort Worth, Texas, Denis (Jessaka) Villareal of Katy, Texas, Sheri Collins of McKinney, Texas, and Tamara (Chad) Price of Wylie, Texas; and his nieces and nephews: Alyxandra Holmes, Alyssa Holmes, Jordan Holmes, Marisa Villareal, Caleb Villareal, Joshua Villareal, Nathan Dedmon, Andrew Collins, Zachary Bybee and Paislee Collins. He will always be remembered as a loving son, brother, uncle and friend to all that knew and loved him.

Craig was a man of many passions, and his life was marked by a relentless pursuit of knowledge, creativity and purpose. He had a deep love for God, and his faith was a constant source of strength and guidance throughout his life.

A passionate musician, Craig had a special connection with music, which he expressed through his talent and creativity. Craig was part of the band of JAB (which stood for Just Another Band) with his friends and loved sharing his gift with others. Music was a constant source of joy in his life.

In addition to his musical talents, Craig enjoyed skateboarding growing up. The freedom he found in the sport mirrored his adventurous spirit and his desire to live life fully. His passion for skateboarding reflected his fun-loving nature and his willingness to take risks in pursuits of what he loved.

Craig was quite the online content creator and innovator. He was the webmaster of local hard rock publication Harder Beat Magazine in the late 90s to early 2000s, where his sister Andie was Senior Editor at the time. Craig and Andie launched their own online zine they called The Sound Magazine at soundmag.com in 2000. They ran the popular music and art zine together for five years, gaining global attention in the budding online zine world. Chris Christianson even offered to buy the business at one point, but brother and sister would not sell out, deciding instead to close the zine and website in 2005. During this time Craig also launched his own website, Aldebaran Studios eventually renamed craigvillareal.com, which featured his extensive work in digital design, desktop publishing, web development, and entrepreneurial ventures. His client list was extensive, featuring many local musicians, businesses, and venues. Craig maintained over 40 client websites.

Craig also ran a custom handmade drums business, Taurus Drums, in addition to working on custom handmade guitars. He also ran a custom skullcap (kufi cap) webstore, kendiskustoms.com, in honor of Rush drummer Neil Peart who was known for wearing this style of cap while performing. Craig's handmade caps grace the heads of many fans worldwide.

Craig found great joy in restoring and building cars. His love for automobiles was a true expression of his creativity and technical skill. He enjoyed computer-aided design (CAD) which allowed him to explore and refine his ideas in ways that were both practical and inspiring. Alongside all these passions, Craig developed a keen interest in investing and real estate. His curiosity and strategic thinking led him to explore the world of finance and real estate.

He was preceded in death by his father, David Villareal.

Visitation will be held from 12-2 p.m. on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at the Ted Dickey Funeral Home in Plano, TX. The Funeral Service will be held immediately afterwards at 2 pm. Interment will follow in Plano Mutual Cemetery.

Though he is no longer with us, his legacy of creativity, innovation, faith and passion will live on in the hearts of all who knew him. Craig may be gone, but his influence in the worlds of music, art, and design, as well as the love and warmth he brought to his family and friends, will never be forgotten. We will forever cherish the time we had with Craig and the love and joy he brought to our lives. May he rest in peace.

In honor of Craig’s life, the family requests that you wear either one of your favorite band’s or one of Craig’s favorite band’s t-shirts to honor his memory. Also, during the visitation, family and friends will have an opportunity to sign and leave messages on his casket.