Eugene A. Craig

Eugene "Gene" Albert Craig, 79, of Inkom, Idaho, passed away on January 15, 2020 at his home surrounded by his loved ones.

Gene was born on October 17, 1940, in Laramie, Wyoming to Mary Belle Craig Jenks and William Willard Craig. He was the second son and child of five children with another brother and two sisters that followed.
Gene moved to the Pocatello, Idaho area in 1946 with his mother and older brother. Gene attended school in Pocatello and has always worked hard, beginning at a young age by helping his mother run the Western Motel in Chubbuck, Idaho, before his employment at Glen's Chevrolet and Eddy's bakery later on.

Gene had a passion for cars and has always been a great cook, so his employment choices came as no surprise. Neither did his decision to join the United States Airforce in 1963. He served active duty in Okinawa among other locations during 1963-1967 as an aircraft mechanic. During that time, he obtained his GED before receiving his honorable discharge in May of 1969.

His passion for aircraft and mechanics continued after being released from the military. He went to work for Boeing in Kent, Washington before returning to the Pocatello area when he married and began a family. The new beginning to a successful extensive career in the industrial steel fabrication industry began in 1974 when he started as a fitted welder for Bucyrus-Erie in Pocatello, and then on to PAFCO in 1986. Following, he moved to Pittsburg, California for AMK where he worked rebuilding the U.S.S. steel plant in January of 1988 for several months. While continuing his employment with Cedar Rapids, Gene came back to Pocatello and continued working in the Steel industry as a supervisor for Pafco/Yeargin and later for SME Steel before finally retiring in October of 2003.

Gene enjoyed working in the steel industry and could make anything and everything out of steel. He was very good at it. Gene also enjoyed the outdoors including hunting, snowmobiling, four wheeling, and welding.

Gene is survived by his two daughters, Jodi (Tim) Walker of Inkom, Idaho; Sheri Craig of Idaho; brother Clifford (Shirley) Jenks of Eugene, Oregon; sisters Karen Floyd and Vyonne Jenks (both of Pocatello), and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by the love of his life and friend Bobbie Going; his mother Mary Belle Craig Jenks; son Eugene Allen; brother William "Bill" Ronald Craig, and his nephew.

A special thank you to his old neighbor, Phil Dixon and family, friend Lloyd Watson, Mona Maldonado and family. Also, thank you to the Encompass Hospice nurses and staff including Brandie, David, Remy, Steve, Katie, Royanna, Stephanie, and Anique. Finally, a special thank you to Tim Walker for all your help, love, and support throughout this adventure. I know papa would say the same thing.

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m. at Wilks Funeral Home, 211 W. Chubbuck Road, Chubbuck, Idaho, on Wednesday, January 22nd.

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