Cecile Craig

Cecile Louise Johnson Craig passed away at the age of 100 on Sept. 4,2014, at her home in Uvalde.
She was born in Lake Victor, Texas, on Jan. 9, 1914.
She moved to Uvalde at the age of five with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Adams, and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Johnson George and Myra.
Her parents established the Johnson General Merchandise Store at the corner of Park and Commerce Streets, and Cecile often helped her parents in the store as she grew up.
After graduating from Uvalde High School in 1930, Cecile left in June of that year for Belton, Texas, where she attended Baylor College and worked as the college registrars secretary.
She later transferred to Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, receiving an undergraduate degree in English and business administration from that university in 1934.
Always recognizing the value of education, Cecile continued her studies, doing graduatelevel work in English at the University of Texas in Austin.
Years later, while working fulltime as a teacher and rearing a family, she earned her masters degree from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, majoring in educational psychology and library science.
Cecile began her teaching career in a oneroom schoolhouse in Blewett, Texas. From 19361941, she taught at West Main School in Uvalde.
During World War II, she worked as a surgeons secretary at Garner Field Air Base from 1941 1943.
On Aug. 28, 1943, at the base chapel in Stuttgart, Arkansas, Cecile married James Ellis Craig of Marshallville, Georgia.
James was a captain in the U.S. Army Air Corps and a B17 pilot. During the early years of their marriage, the couple lived in five different states before returning to Uvalde to settle down after Captain Craig was injured in the war and left military service.
For more than 30 years, Cecile had a career as an educator, serving as both a classroom teacher and a librarian. She taught in eight different schools in Florida and Texas and taught almost as many subjects, providing instruction for students in English, Spanish, history, math, and chemistry before becoming a librarian.
She served as a librarian at the junior high school before being asked to establish and maintain the first libraries at Benson and Robb Elementary Schools.
After leaving the public schools, she became assistant librarian at Southwest Texas Junior College. During that time, she also occasionally taught night courses in American and British literature for SWTJC and Sul Ross.
Following her retirement from the junior college in 1979, she served as head librarian for the El Progreso and county libraries before fully retiring in 1983.
In addition to her career in education, Cecile was a partner with her husband in two businesses the JohnsonCraig Furniture Company in North Uvalde and Norge Fabricare on Main Street.
Cecile was a member of the American Association of University Women Delta Kappa Gamma, in which she served a term as president the Retired Teachers Association and the First Baptist Church.
Over the years, she helped shape the lives of hundreds of students in elementary school, junior high, and college. Many former students have approached her over the years to tell her how much her affection and encouragement meant to them.
Always putting others before herself, Cecile lived a life of love and service. She walked in faith with the Lord and valued family, friends, and the simple life. She was the consummate mother, always looking for ways to help others in need in addition to caring for her immediate family. Her life was based on charity and compassion. She was loved, admired, respected, and cherished by her family. In losing her, her family has lost their greatest treasure.
Cecile was preceded in death by her parents her brother, William Haul Johnson her sister, Anne Johnson Graves her husband and three sonsinlaw: Joe Henderson, Larry Lewis, and Andrew Sichi.
She is survived by her daughters, Dianne Craig of Canyon Lake and Janie Morrison Wade of San Antonio granddaughter, Jean Brannum Chris FishlockLomax of Uvalde greatgrandson, Eddie Brannum Kim Eagle of Uvalde niece Patti Dunlap of Sequim, Washington niece Jan Pollard of San Antonio nephew, Tom Graves and family of Anchorage, Alaska and cousins, Pat and Paul Rogers of Montell, along with other muchloved relatives.
She is also survived by members of her husbands family, Mr. John Mercer and family of Atlanta, Georgia, and Mr. and Mrs. Walter Cooper, Jr. and family of Hurst.
The family wishes to express their gratitude to the wonderful staff of Uvalde Hospice and also to Dora Torres and the other compassionate caretakers who allowed Cecile to stay in her home until the end.
Services for Cecile will be held at the RushingEstes Funeral Home on Sunday, September 7, 2014 at 2:00 PM. A reception at the Garner residence, 422 N. High St., will follow the service. A graveside service for family only will also be held.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the El Progreso Memorial Library.

Visitation

RushingEstesKnowles Mortuary
220 S. Getty St.
Uvalde, TX  78801
Saturday, September 6, 2014
12:00 noon

Service

Funeral Service

RushingEstesKnowles Mortuary
220 S. Getty St.
Uvalde, TX  78801
Sunday, September 7, 2014
2:00 PM

Cemetery

Hillcrest Cemetery
Hwy. 90 West
Uvalde, TX  78801

Memorial Contributions

301 W. Main St.
Uvalde, TX  78801