On June 11, 2022, Craig Ryan retired his passport and embarked on his final journey, leaving us heartbroken and lonely.

 

Craig was born in Peace River on August 16, 1969, but his early years were spent in Edmonton. Craig grew up as a devoted Oilers fan. This past season’s playoff run brought him great joy and stress! Craig’s family eventually relocated to Grimshaw, where he spent his teen years.

 

Following high school, he made a brief stop at university to study English but quickly realized he was too smart for that. Instead, he moved to Vernon, where he learned to mix a good Long Island Iced Tea and blend songs to keep the girls dancing. After a stop in Grande Prairie, he moved home to Peace River. It was there he entered the newspaper business. He worked for several papers including Peace River, Lloydminster, Cold Lake, and Fort MacMurray. Craig had an ability to think ahead and saw the newspaper business declining. He made another career change and went back to school, at NAIT, to study telecommunication. Craig’s work in telecommunication with Telus and ATCO led him to drive down most highways and grid roads in Alberta. Thankfully he loved to drive and listen to satellite radio. This kept him up to date on world affairs, and the sports world. As a true Parrothead, his radio was often turned to Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville. Most recently the dial was turned to Bruce Springsteen.

 

Craig was a card holding member of the Red Sox Nation. He was thrilled in 2004 when they finally broke the ‘Curse of the Bambino’ and won the World Series. He travelled to Boston to watch his team as well as Seattle and San Diego. He was at Fenway Park in 2016 when his favourite player, ‘Big Papi’ retired.

 

Craig loved to travel. He loved the ocean and the taste of saltwater after a big wave. He loved exploring and finding hidden, off the beaten path places. He loved wandering and seeing where the day took him. He and his long-time travel companion and partner, Alison, made several trips to the Caribbean and California together. Antigua will always be ‘their island’. The COVID travel restrictions were hard. Craig and Alison were able to take one last trip in April to Mexico and were planning their next trip to California when Craig suffered a sudden and devastating stroke.

 

Craig loved music and going to concerts. His last concert was in May. He and Alison had waited two years to see James Taylor. While Craig didn’t like crowds, he was able to forget that for live music. The next big concert they were waiting for was Bruce Springsteen. Craig was surrounded by love and Bruce’s music as he took his last breaths.

 

Craig was a passionate man who didn’t tolerate stupid people. If you were lucky enough to gain his trust and call him a friend, you know he had strong opinions and was usually right. He wouldn’t have wanted a funeral. He would want those he loved to pour a rum, a Crown Float, or a gin and tonic, and listen to good music. In the morning, as you drink your coffee, add a shot of Baileys, and remember Craig.

 

Craig leaves to remember his wit, his incredible memory for facts, and his commitment to the things he loved: his girlfriend, Alison Steele, with whom he shared many wonderful vacations, concerts, adventures and the better part of 16 years; his mother, Helen Ryan, who he loved deeply and had a very special relationship with; his lifelong best friend Amber Armstrong and her daughter, Broenyn Armstrong, whom he adored; his cousins, whom he was very close with, Kim and Troy Houlder and their family; as well as uncles, aunts, numerous cousins, close friends and special coworkers. Craig’s father, Milton Ryan, died in March 2008. They are now buried beside one another in Manning.

 

“Silver wings

Shining in the sunlight

Roaring engines

Headed somewhere in flight

They’re takin’ you away

Leavin’ me lonely

Silver wings

Slowly fadin’ out of sight”

• Date : 2022-06-11
• Location : Leduc, AB

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