Craig Davis

Craig Alan Davis, 63, of Pleasant Grove, passed away Sunday, May 1, 2022. He was born August 21, 1958 in Long Beach, California, to Ross Roosevelt Davis and Mary Lyn Carter Davis.

Craig grew up in Long Beach, CA where he once skipped school and rode his bike to Disneyland with his friends. When he came home that night and Lyn asked where he’d been all day, he told the truth. She didn’t believe him and continued her interrogation.

Craig performed in musicals at Millikan High in Long Beach including Carousel as Jigger Craigin and The Sound of Music as Rolf Gruber (link to a recording of him singing in high school) with his cherished friend, Karen, as Liesl von Trapp. Later, the family moved north to Templeton, CA where Craig helped his father build their ranch.

Craig attended BYU where he met Karlene Wells. They were married in January 1981 and later divorced. They had four children.

He and Whitney Larsen blended their families Brady Bunch style on August 13, 1994. Yabba Dabba Doo!

Craig’s number one priority in life was his family, and it seems that his love for them finally exceeded the capacity of his physical heart, which he joked was ‘two sizes too small’. Perhaps he was right about that: his love for his family became so big his heart burst Sunday evening, taking him too soon.

Caring for everyone in his family and their individual needs was Craig’s super power. He always knew how to engage with members of his family to help them feel included and loved. The very thought of his grandchildren would move him to tears of joy and pride. At times, Craig preferred to be thought of as a curmudgeon with a rough exterior. Those who knew him best understood this was a facade. Craig was the best husband, friend, daddy bear, Bampa, pops, mentor, brother, and partner we could ask for. Not a day passed without Craig beaming with pride and sharing stories about his children and grandchildren.

Work was interspersed with activities that fueled him. You could often find Craig at the piano playing Chopin with his eyes closed or singing along to Frank Sinatra. Golfing was his passion and expertise. He was the best golfer we knew, he drove a ball over 400 yards at least once! He simply couldn’t resist the urge to coach others. He knew when to cheer and when you needed to hear a tip to improve your stance or putt. He never shied away from laughing about his own game. He often joked about the “middle of the club face” trick, like he’d just discovered it again. Much like his father Ross, airplanes were high on his list of favorite things. ‘MacGyver-ing’ anything around the house that needed fixing, trolling Facebook and KSL.com comment sections, skiing, and writing were also common activities.

Craig has been Whitney’s constant companion and remained her fierce advocate through rough leukemia treatment during the unprecedented times of the last two years. It was truly a display of enviable compassion and love.

Musings found on Craig’s computer since his passing sum up his outlook on life and bring us comfort and peace: “To find pleasure in the simplest of things, to know joy even in the midst of extreme pain & loss, to accept life as it unfolds, appreciate the beauty and majesty of God’s mysterious handiwork — this is the life I choose to live — and live as if each day were my last.”

Craig is preceded in death by his father, Ross Roosevelt Davis, his mother, Mary Lyn Carter, and his brother-in-law, Doyle Griffith.

Craig is survived by his sweetheart, Whitney Larsen Davis, sweet pup Lola, his siblings, Stevan (Leuri Zibetti) Davis, Bradley (Ruth) Davis, Kimberly (Don) Lovelace, and Dana Griffith, his children, McKenna (Stephen) Gordon, Christopher Davis, Austin (Lauren Casey) Wilson, Melanie (Evelyn Yang) Davis, Megan (Kendall) Duclos, and Elle (Aaron) Baker, and his grandchildren, Carter Gordon, Rayder Ricks, Lorenzo Gordon, Rome Ricks, Gabriella Gordon, Kai Duclos, and Rosa (Rosie) Duclos as well as many nieces, nephews, and cherished friends.

A small, private family memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2022 at 1:00 pm.

For those unable to attend in person, you may view the Services HERE - Part 1 Part 2 - HERE

In lieu of flowers, you might consider one of the following:

1. A plantable geranium for Whitney’s yard, as Craig always planted flowers for Mother’s Day.

2. Emailing your favorite memory of Craig to nocasserolesplease@gmail.com

3. A donation to the Leukemia Foundation (LLS.org) or to an individual you know who is currently battling leukemia.

Condolences may be expressed to the family on this page.

Send a Meaningful Gift