Obituary of Craig Alan Smith

Craig Alan Smith passed away peacefully on Friday, April 28, 2023 in Osage Beach, MO.

Craig was born August 5, 1954 in Fort Leonard Wood, MO to Wayne and Helen Smith. Craig’s father was in the Air Force and the family spent some time living in Japan, among other places. Craig attended School of the Osage, graduating in 1973. Craig excelled at track and basketball and set a school record for the one mile run.

Craig joined the Navy after high school and spent four years as a communications specialist in Sugar Grove, West Virginia and Adak, Alaska. He held various jobs after the Navy, settling back in the Lake Ozark area.

Craig had a fun-loving spirit and a passion for adventure and the outdoors. Craig was an avid sports fan and in particular of the Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs teams. He also loved hunting, caving, and learning all he could about the natural world around him. He was an active member of the Lake Ozarks Grotto. Craig was intelligent with an amazing knack for remembering details. Craig loved being with family.

Craig is survived by his older brother Mike (Kathleen) Smith, older sister Melanie (Ted) Windels, younger sister Kim (Joe) Luca, and younger sister Kristin (Greg) Gonder. He also had many nephews, nieces and cousins.

A graveside service with full military honors will be held at Lake Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Osage Beach, Missouri at 1:00pm on Saturday, June 3, 2023. A celebration of life will immediately follow at the Senior Activity Center at the Lake, located at 748 Highway D in Osage Beach, Missouri.

In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Craig’s name for cancer research.