Wilma Jean “Jeanne” (Bray) Craig was born on November 8, 1937 in Elk City, OK. She was the youngest child of Clifford and Lula (Patton) Bray. After a hard-fought battle with cancer, Jeanne went to be with the Lord on June 24, 2015 from the comforts of her home.

Jeanne was a woman of strong faith, being baptized in 1947 and serving the church throughout her life. Jeanne attended school in Leedey and graduated in the class of 1955. She moved away from home for the first time to Stillwater, OK to attend Oklahoma State University, where she obtained a B.S. in Business Education. Jeanne married her high school sweetheart Joe Craig at the First Baptist Church (FBC) of Leedey on December 21, 1956.

As an Army wife for 26 years, Jeanne has lived in many locations in the United States and around the world, including Germany, WA, VA, TX, AL, LA, KS, PA, and OK. She and Joe raised two children together, Carolyn (Craig) Belden (b. 1961) and Thomas Craig (b. 1964), as they traveled the world and both had successful careers.

Growing up on a farm, Jeanne had a strong work ethic. She went on to work various jobs to help pay for school, taught courses at the college level, and received a Master’s Degree in Psychology from East Central University in Ada, OK in 1978. Jeanne had a way with words and touched countless lives through her professional work as a mental health therapist and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), most recently providing services through local churches and organizations.

After retiring from the Army, Joe and Jeanne moved back to their hometown of Leedey in 1987 where they operated Rozel Ranch for the next twenty-eight years. During that time, they also were primary guardians to granddaughters Alison and Kaitlin Belden for six years.

Jeanne played an active role in the community. She was a member of the YWS Club, Leedey Book Club, B.I.S.O.N Mentoring Board, FBC choir, Preschool Sunday School teacher, Academic Bowl moderator, Miss LHS tabulator, Deputy Minutes Clerk for the local school board and Clerk for the Town of Leedey. As evidenced by the previous list, Jeanne invested her time and talent into the lives of many individuals and to the betterment of society. Volunteerism was an ideal that she truly upheld.

Jeanne had a wide array of hobbies and interests. She had an innate love for nature, especially enjoying sunsets, hummingbirds, and horses. She also spent many hours in her garden. Combining her homegrown vegetables with her cultural influences, Jeanne loved creating unique dishes. She was especially known for “Friday night homemade pizzas”. Her travels inspired a love for the arts. Jeanne frequented museums, theatrical performances, and musical productions. She was an artist in her own right, serving as a church soloist. She also received the inaugural Leedey Fine Arts Award in 1955. Some other hobbies and interests were reading, crocheting, and sewing.

Jeanne was proceeded in death by her parents, Clifford and Lula Bray; two brothers, Mel and Doyle Bray. She is survived by husband Joe Craig of the home; daughter, Carolyn Belden and husband Andrew; son, Thomas Craig and wife Laura; four grandchildren, Alison and Kaitlin Belden, and Heather and Samuel Craig; two sister-in-law, Jackie Bray and Oleta Bray; nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

Services will be held Monday June 29, 2015 at 10:00 am at the First Baptist Church, Leedey, Oklahoma with burial following in Evergreen Cemetery, Leedey, Oklahoma.