This week saw the passing of a fellow newspaper publisher and friend, Morris Craig. Morris owned the Naples Monitor for around 50-years and was a friend, mentor, sounding board, and pillar of the Naples and Omaha communities.
Morris will be greatly missed.
-30-
Morris Garland Craig
December 24, 1937-August 19, 2023
Morris Garland Craig, age 85, of Naples, Texas, passed away Saturday, August 19, 2023 at his home. Craig was born December 24, 1937, in Douglassville, Texas, to Hardman Craig and Dovie Lee Kennedy Craig.
Craig was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Naples. He owned and operated The Monitor newspaper in Naples and devoted his life to Naples, Omaha, and the surrounding communities. Craig especially enjoyed providing coverage of the events at Paul Pewitt Independent School District. He received numerous awards for his work at The Monitor, but the award he was most proud of was The Golden 50 Award from the Texas Press Association. He was a former member of the Naples Lions Club and the Naples Chamber of Commerce. When he wasn’t engulfed in his work, Craig enjoyed playing the drums and spending time with his family. In his younger years, he enjoyed fishing as well.
Craig was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Anissa Craig; one brother, W.L. “Doc” Dodson; two sisters, Frances Phillips and Charlene Craig; and one grandson, Ben Phillips.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Melba Craig of Naples; two daughters, Andrea Forte and husband Tommie of Naples and Denise Craig and fiancé David Shaddix of Marietta, Texas; one son, Jeremy Craig of Naples; one sister, Iris Russell of Fort Worth, Texas; eight grandchildren, Deidra Bell and husband James, Dylan Shaddix, Sam Phillips, Hannah Forte, Lekatrian Walton and husband Kevin, Tommorris Forte, Austin Shaddix and wife Rachel, and Colton Shaddix; seven great-grandchildren, Joplin Bell, Edmund Shaddix, Winston Shaddix, Eleanor Shaddix, Aniya Lewis, K.J. Walton, and Kairo Walton; two nephews, Mike Dodson and Mark Dodson; three nieces, Kathryn Swindell, Becky Russell, and Rachel Martin; and numerous other relatives and friends.
A celebration of life service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 26, 2023, at the First United Methodist Church in Naples with Dr. Chas Carlisle officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Omaha Cares, P.O. Box 932, Omaha, TX 75571 or to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 306, Naples, TX 75568.