Birth date: Jan 19, 1946 Death date: Sep 15, 2021
Craig Paul Harris (January 19, 1946 – September 15, 2021) Craig Paul Harris, 75, died Wednesday, September 15, 2021, at home in St. Petersburg, Florida with his wife, Rebecca Ryan-Jones, at his side. Craig was born in Cleveland, Read Obituary
Craig,
Since there has always just been 18 months between us all these years, it’s been an interesting journey.
I don’t have any trouble picking out something very special to me and I think it was for you too.
The last time we saw mom in the hospital, we left to go to the beach we had been on many times as kids. It seemed appropriate after the tough time it was for us to make the decision to remove life-support from her. A very tough day.
Sitting on my desk to this day is the photograph that you took of me taking a photograph of the sunset. Little did we know that while we were there our mom would pass away.
What was significant about this is that in the several years following this part of our journey, we were more close than we had ever been….Talking often on the phone and sending things back-and-forth to each other. One of the special things was a little gift that you sent me that remains on my refrigerator till this day. It is a small wooden piece that is wrapped with papers like a gift with a ribbon and a card that says:
“ This is a very special gift
That you can never see
The reason it so special is
It’s just for you, from me.
Whenever you’re lonely
Or even feeling blue
You only have to hold this gift
And know I think of you.
You never can unwrap it
Please leave the ribbon tied
Just hold the box close to your heart
It’s filled with love inside.”
And this, Craig, is what I CHOOSE to remember from all of our years.
Much love,
Cheryl 💕🙏
My personal experiences with Craig were limited to brief family gatherings large and small at various locations over the years he shared with Rebecca. Although he was an enigma to me, Rebecca loved and cared for him greatly and his absence will be deeply felt.
I met Craig as a teenager. I thought I knew it all, had little to no respect for auemely reckless. I spent an entire summer with Craig and my Aunt Rebecca. Craig put me throu what I call "Craig's school of Hard Knocks" which consisted of lots of hard work, no BS and lots of conversations about growing up and getting my $#@! together. That summer I learned alot, helped Craig build the addition on his house and got my first "real" job. I returned home an entirely different person. Everytime I would see Craig throughout the years he would always want an update. No matter what update I gave him (graduated college, working, etc) it felt that it was never enough. Idk why I yearnd for his approval so much (probably due to who I was when we first met and wanting him to see me in an entirely different light) but whatever I accomplished never seemed good enough. Now I am 32 with 2 beautiful children and a beautiful wife. I realize now that Craig always respected me and it wasn't that he didn't overlook my accomplishments he was pushing me to accomplish and conquer more. He wanted me to be the best that I could be and that was his way of saying it. Craig made a huge impact on my life and has helped shaped me into the person I am today. For that I thank you! Rest easy
I remember talking with Craig outside my mother's Sarasota home in 2003. Chatting in the sunshine, looking over our new car together.
Our sons Tom and Chris (teenagers in 2003) thought Craig was the greatest. He had a fast car and was a smoker. So excitingly different from dad and mom...
Kathy and I visited St. Petersburg Dec 2018 and 2019. So much good conversation around the kitchen table, as Craig was interested in everything and everyone.
