Jane Stanley Craig

Jane Stanley Craig ASHEVILLE—Jane Stanley Craig, 94, died peacefully on Sunday, May 4, at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community after a period of declining health. A long-time Asheville resident, Jane will be remembered by her many friends especially for her devoted volunteer service to community education, recreation, and multiple charitable organizations including Asheville YWCA and AAUW, Girl Scouts, Red Cross, the Children's Welfare League, United Way, Buncombe County Medical Auxiliary; at some time serving as president or board member of most of them. As a member of Trinity Episcopal Church for almost sixty years, she did everything from teaching Sunday School and serving on the Vestry to heading the kitchen committee for decades. She also served on the Deerfield board for many years prior to moving there in 1999. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Jane was the daughter of Dr. William and Estelle Kellerman Stanley. After graduating in 1935 from Goucher College, Baltimore, Md., she began working as a researcher for the Carnegie Foundation, and a year later she and Dr. Robert L. Craig, whom she had met four years earlier, married. Following their move to Durham, she taught anatomy at Duke Medical School until the birth of their second child. In her only other paying job, many years later, she initiated the baby-swim program at the Asheville YWCA and taught many other swim classes at both Y's. Jane was preceded in death by her husband and her son, William S. Craig. The loving, beloved, and inspiring matriarch of her large family, she is survived by daughters Nancy Simmons of New York City, Susan Pralle and husband Frank of Topeka, Kansas, and Barbara Morgan of Marion; daughter-in-law Marie Roth and husband Fred of Mocksville; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. A memorial service in celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, May 10 at 2:00 pm at St. Giles Chapel at Deerfield, where she was a member, with the Rev. Anita Sayles officiating. The family will receive friends following the service in the chapel's fellowship hall. Interment will follow at the Urban Garden at Grace Episcopal Church with immediate family attending. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Asheville YWCA (185 South French Broad Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801), AAUW (see www.aauw.org/contribute), and the Deerfield Employees Appreciation Fund (1617 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, NC, 28803). Groce Funeral Home of Patton Avenue is in charge of arrangements. The memorial register is available online by going to "Obituaries" at www.grocefuneralhome.com.