I met Craig when I was in the the ninth grade, of course during band camp. He was a couple years older than me, but I remember he would always make me and all the other freshmen feel so welcome. He always had a smile and and went out of his way to say hi.
One memory I have of Craig that stands out, is one night during "heck week" in marching band we had a spaghetti and meet balls dinner at my house, and Craig was so funny. We had lots of great memories and most of them I bet he probably wouldn't even remember, but to me, they had a great impact on my life.
Craig was almost like a big brother figure. Every body loved him. I just want to let his family know that we are thinking about them in this time of trial, and our prayers go out to you. Kevin and Shelley, I am thinking about you both and hope that you know how many people love you guys, and our prayers go out to you all.
--Heidi Lowther (Atwood)
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
EFY
I didn't know Craig very well when we were EFY Counselors together, but he was very inspiring and always had a smile on his face. He is a great example to everyone around him and all of us who knew him or even knew of him are better because of it. We will get to see him again and feel of his wonderful cheerful spirit. May the Lord bless and comfort his family at this time. Know that we are all better because he was a part of our lives.
--Megan
--Megan
Code Names!
At the start of my 8th grade year, my family moved to Utah just a few fences down from the Deckers and I began attending Joel P. Jensen Middle School. I had more than half my classes with Craig-- in fact, he was the very first person I met.
That year and in 9th grade, I was very close friends in a tight-knit group of 5 girls. We were all in Craig's ward. More than one in the group had a HUGE crush on Craig. We're talking HUGE in the way only an 8th grade crush can be. Naturally this is pretty much all we talked about... that, and the other girls' other crushes, but really The Craig Crush took up more talking time than any other subject, and there was a lot of talking. There was even a song about him, as I recall.
Obviously, we needed code names to talk about him. I think of them now and they still make me giggle-- first, because of association-- we giggled when we used them-- and second, because they're even more absurd now than I thought back then.
The first is pretty obvious-- "compact disc," because his initials are CD. Then we thought that was too obvious, so we called him "Cordless Duster." (To be able to tell complete stories in code, all the Decker brothers had "Duster" names. Dave was "Diesel Duster." I forget Lynn's, I'm sure it was ridiculous. Kevin was "Kinetic Duster.") But that was so obviously a code name, and so easy to figure out. When we really needed to be secretive and tell stories in a way that no one would suspect, we'd simply call him "Jenny"-- yes, from "Jenny Craig." But the number one name we called him was "Particle C." We'd tell such complex stories about how Particle C bumped into Particle M or Particle A, and Particle R was sent careening of somewhere, and what happened from all those "chemical reactions."
Ah, these are the things we thought we'd never tell. But it's poignant to me to recall that although I came to love him as a wonderful adult, people loved him in more ways than just that! I wonder if he ever figured it out...
--Rebekka Matheson
That year and in 9th grade, I was very close friends in a tight-knit group of 5 girls. We were all in Craig's ward. More than one in the group had a HUGE crush on Craig. We're talking HUGE in the way only an 8th grade crush can be. Naturally this is pretty much all we talked about... that, and the other girls' other crushes, but really The Craig Crush took up more talking time than any other subject, and there was a lot of talking. There was even a song about him, as I recall.
Obviously, we needed code names to talk about him. I think of them now and they still make me giggle-- first, because of association-- we giggled when we used them-- and second, because they're even more absurd now than I thought back then.
The first is pretty obvious-- "compact disc," because his initials are CD. Then we thought that was too obvious, so we called him "Cordless Duster." (To be able to tell complete stories in code, all the Decker brothers had "Duster" names. Dave was "Diesel Duster." I forget Lynn's, I'm sure it was ridiculous. Kevin was "Kinetic Duster.") But that was so obviously a code name, and so easy to figure out. When we really needed to be secretive and tell stories in a way that no one would suspect, we'd simply call him "Jenny"-- yes, from "Jenny Craig." But the number one name we called him was "Particle C." We'd tell such complex stories about how Particle C bumped into Particle M or Particle A, and Particle R was sent careening of somewhere, and what happened from all those "chemical reactions."
Ah, these are the things we thought we'd never tell. But it's poignant to me to recall that although I came to love him as a wonderful adult, people loved him in more ways than just that! I wonder if he ever figured it out...
--Rebekka Matheson
Craig, the physiologist and friend
This past winter semester, I participated in PdBio 362 with Craig. We often sat together on the front row. During the semester, I came to know Craig as a person with a keen mind and sharp intellect. He often helped me understand the more difficult concepts. More importantly, however, I came to know Craig as someone with compassion and an optimistic world view no matter the circumstances (something I discovered during mid-terms and finals).
Craig taught me through example that life is what we make of it--it does not make us. His smiles touched me and reminded me that even in the rain, we can whistle a tune. I consider myself blessed to have know him. I mourn the loss of his companionship and his friendship.
--Daniel Barron
Craig taught me through example that life is what we make of it--it does not make us. His smiles touched me and reminded me that even in the rain, we can whistle a tune. I consider myself blessed to have know him. I mourn the loss of his companionship and his friendship.
--Daniel Barron
See you latter from Argentina
Even though we are gonna miss you, I'm glad we live in a world where news travel so fast so that I'm able to say with everyone else: "see you latter".
It has been an honor to served the Lord with you in the Argentina Neuquen Mission. Working with you I could tell you were pure in heart. To your family, congratulations for your son and brother. I know you will see him again.
--Gustavo Mazal
It has been an honor to served the Lord with you in the Argentina Neuquen Mission. Working with you I could tell you were pure in heart. To your family, congratulations for your son and brother. I know you will see him again.
--Gustavo Mazal
Neuroscience class
Craig was in my neuroscience class right after he lost his hand. He asked me to take notes for him, but after a few days he was confident that he could finally read his left-handed scrawl. I was impressed that he learned to write with his other hand so quickly, and that he didn't take advantage of his disability. With his help neuroscience, while still difficult, was often a subject to laugh about.
--Rachel M.
--Rachel M.
Dolphins and Pirates
Craig is one of the most vibrant personalities I've ever had the opportunity of knowing. We were in the same ward together in Spring. Not only was he in charge of the most fun ward activities I've ever participated in, but he was remarkably creative.
One day after church meetings, a group of us were standing in the hall, and one of the girls present didn't know how Craig lost his hand. He launched into this amazing story about how he went to Sea World and fed a fish to a dolphin, and the dolphin bit his hand off. He kept a straight face, gave amazing details, and the girl TOTALLY believed him! He even went on to say that his revenge at the dolphin population was eating really cheap "tuna" fish with dolphin bits in it.
Like so many others who have posted thus far, I think one of the most striking characteristics about him was how CHEERFUL he was about not having a hand. He even did a stand-up comedy routine for Ward Prayer. It was great!
When I think of Craig, I don't think of his prosthetic. His personality was so much stronger than that! He was so completely happy that it was easy to forget that his body wasn't complete. Craig will be missed. But he is a great example of how a single person can have a profound impact on so many people. Thanks, Old Man.
--Kim Matheson
One day after church meetings, a group of us were standing in the hall, and one of the girls present didn't know how Craig lost his hand. He launched into this amazing story about how he went to Sea World and fed a fish to a dolphin, and the dolphin bit his hand off. He kept a straight face, gave amazing details, and the girl TOTALLY believed him! He even went on to say that his revenge at the dolphin population was eating really cheap "tuna" fish with dolphin bits in it.
Like so many others who have posted thus far, I think one of the most striking characteristics about him was how CHEERFUL he was about not having a hand. He even did a stand-up comedy routine for Ward Prayer. It was great!
When I think of Craig, I don't think of his prosthetic. His personality was so much stronger than that! He was so completely happy that it was easy to forget that his body wasn't complete. Craig will be missed. But he is a great example of how a single person can have a profound impact on so many people. Thanks, Old Man.
--Kim Matheson
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