Mary Jo Craig

Mary Jo Hopping Craig was born in the Jubilee Hospital in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada on July 16, 1935.  She was the daughter of George Redstone Hopping and La Velle Yantis.  She was the youngest of 4 children.   Her family continued to live in Vernon B.C. until her father (an entomologist for the Canadian government) was transferred to Calgary, Alberta, Canada where she attended and graduated from Central High School and enjoyed playing on the varsity basketball team.  While living in Calgary, Mary Jo, her mother, and sisters became members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

After high school she attended Brigham Young University where she met her husband, Wesley, and they were married and sealed shortly thereafter in the Cardston, Alberta temple.  Mary Jo and Wesley enjoyed ball-room dancing up until the time that she contracted Polio just before delivering her 3rd child, which resulted in partial permanent paralysis— taking away her ability to participate in sports and dancing which she loved. This only increased her capacity to love, serve, and nurture others, and her six children were her pride, joy, and focus throughout her life.  Undaunted, and despite her physical limitations, her family traveled and lived in many foreign countries including Guatemala (where David was born), Peru (where William was born), Spain (where James was almost born), and Venezuela where she served with Wesley as Mission President of the Maracaibo, Venezuela Mission.  These experiences enabled her to become fluent in the Spanish and French languages. For the past 35 years she has lived in St. George, Utah with her husband.  During this time she served in the Family History Library, and served another mission with her husband to Central America.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her older sister, Miriam Anne (Micki) Hopping, her brother, John Griffith Hopping, her daughter, Judy Lynn, and her granddaughter, Lindsay Nicole Keith. She is survived by her husband Wesley William Craig Jr. (now 95 years old), her sister Katherine (known as “Kay”) La Velle (David) Wilcox, her daughter, Carol Leslie (Gary-deceased) Keith, her sons David Chrisman (Leslie) Craig, Steven Andrew (Elizabeth) Craig, William Bruce (Cynthia) Craig, James Wesley (Nela) Craig, 21 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.  HOW SHE LOVED THEM ALL!!!

Memorial services will be held Friday, January 20, 2023 at 11:00 am at the Riverbend Ward Chapel, 2583 E. 350 N., St. George, UT.  Family and friends may visit prior to the service at 10:00 am.  Interment will be held at the Ivins City Cemetery.