Craig Palmer Myers

Craig, the second child of Mildred and Finley Myers, was born on January 28, 1947 in Staten Island, New York. His father was an Army Captain in WW2, and his early childhood was spent traveling. He spent his childhood in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey and was an avid swimmer, naturalist and Eagle Scout. It was in Mountain Lakes that his love of nature and adventure began. After spending his early years in New York, his family moved to Treasure Island, Florida, in 1996 following his father’s new job as Senior Vice President of the St. Petersburg Motor Club. They were one of the very first families to reside on the intracoastal fingers and many of Craig’s stories of his youth come from his adventures on the Florida beaches, like spearfishing before school or canoeing to the sand bar islands to camp out overnight. He also played on the Boca Ciega High School basketball team as the team’s center.

After high school, Craig moved to Ft. Collins, Colorado where he attended Colorado State University. He worked hard as a milkman to fund part of college and often shared stories about how he spent full days skiing the slopes with university friends. He graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Microbiology. Upon graduating, he immediately enlisted with the United States Army and served in the Reserves as a Tech Sargeant/Drill Instructor for 9 years. He spent a handful of years in Illinois farming a large piece of property he purchased along with teaching at the local high school. He also coached both the track and basketball teams before he made the decision to move back to Pinellas County in 1980. It was here that he met his wife, Kathie.

Craig and Kathie met at Morgan Fitzgerald Middle School in Pinellas Park. He was a science teacher and she, a P.E. Teacher. Their passion for teaching children and coaching track and field are what created their bond. They married on August 1st, 1981 and settled in Seminole, Florida. This became the home they have shared for the past 38 years. Daughter, Marissa, was born on June 13th, 1982, and son, Brendan, on May 10th, 1985. Craig spent nearly 40 years teaching at public schools in Pinellas County: Morgan Fitzgerald Middle (12 years), Seminole High Vo-Ed Center (15 years), Osceola High School (4 years), and finished his teaching career back at the school he and his wife met at, Morgan Fitzgerald Middle. He was an adoring husband.

Craig’s focus during Marissa (Ree) and Brendan’s (Bo) younger years revolved around their vast number of activities and supporting their individual passions. There’s not a soccer game, dance or ice skating competition, football game, marching and orchestral band performance, cheerleading performance, Girl Scout event, swim meet, cross country meet or academic award ceremony that he missed. He selflessly dedicated his time and energy to their athletic and academic interests while also sharing his personal passion of the great outdoors. The best memories his children have are of the many seasons spent camping at national parks, hiking, exploring everything nature has to offer and enjoying the myriad of college and professional sports teams in Florida (Go Gators!). Every outdoor adventure was always accompanied by a science related lesson about the geography and wildlife. Together, Craig and Kathie created a magical childhood for Bo and Ree. That kind of parental support, creativity and education is so rare and precious. He was a selfless father.

Brendan and Marissa both graduated college and the size of the Myers family nearly tripled in size with the addition of six grandchildren over the past 16 years. Five grandsons, Braylon (16), Kyan (11), Paxtyn (9), Cavyn (8), and baby Tyler (5 months) and one granddaughter, Peyton (12). “Pa” was just as involved in his grand children’s lives as he was with Bo and Ree. He never missed a soccer game, swim meet, cross country meet, Grandparents Day or academic award ceremony. He was always first to volunteer to tutor, assisting at schools and offer to be the “Pa chauffer” between the kid’s extracurricular activities. He was a dedicated Pa.

When Craig retired, he and Kathie focused on tackling his bucket list to hike every National Park in the country. This adventure took them to many states and he came close to accomplishing his goal by hiking 51 of the now 62 national parks. He continued his passion of the great outdoors by redesigning their large backyard, building and cultivating a multilevel garden, and kayaking and paddle boarding along the Florida intracoastal. He was a true wildlife whisperer and loved watching them in their natural habitats and taking walks through the local parks with their standard poodle, Raven. He also enjoyed home brewing beer and he gifted many loved ones with Craig’s special seasonal brews. He grew a desire of Democratic political interest and would often enjoy open minded and respectful conversations about the climate, environment and a myriad of other topics. He continued to learn and challenge himself with new perspectives up to his very last day.

Craig was a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, friend and teacher to so many. He created a legacy of selflessness and love and will be terribly missed.

Arrangements were made under the direction of Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home, 7950 131st St. N., Seminole, FL 33776/727-391-0121