Mona Lee (Dennis) Craig passed away on April 27th, 2024, at Ambassador Healthcare. She was born at home in New Lisbon, Indiana, on Christmas Day in 1934 to her mother, Marie Esther Dennis. Mona was raised by her loving grandmother, Stella Belle (Knox) Dennis, aunts Pauline Macy, Elsie Brown all deceased and Kathryn O'Dell of Indianapolis, Indiana. Growing up in Cambridge City, Indiana, Mona graduated from Lincoln High School in 1954. While in school, Mona was employed at the Cambridge City Dress Shop, after graduation, she worked in Cambridge City as a bookkeeper and secretary for the Overhead Door Corporation of Richmond. Mona married Marlin Craig in 1954, after his two-year service in the US. Army. They moved to Muncie, Indiana, where Marlin attended Ball State Teachers College. Mona loved living in Muncie and was a regular attendee of Muncie Civic Theatre productions. After Marlin's graduation, his first position was teaching, coaching basketball and track in the Muncie area. Over the years, Mona was the faithful and supportive coach's wife, driving with two young children in tow and in all kinds of weather, to some locations previously unknown to her, to attend her husband's games. On special occasions, she provided meals in their home for his teams after a tournament or at the end of a season.

Eventually the family moved to farmhouses, first in the Modoc area and later to a two-story brick home, built in 1860, just outside Richmond, where they lived for 50 years. She was a determined worker who would see a task through to fruition, no matter how much time and energy was required. She was curious and self- taught regarding a wide variety of subjects. Mona "bragged" that she knew how to point brick! She learned to upholster furniture and the art of caning. She was an expert in vegetable and herb gardening. She found deep pleasure during the very early part of the calendar year, in watching her beloved snowdrops peak their heads above ground and through the snow. Mona has a fondness for the works of Tasha Tudor, the NASA Channel, and all things related to space. She had a daily schedule providing her with the exact times the International Space Station (ISS) would be passing over her house. Mona would get up early or stay up late so that she could watch her "faithful friend" traveling above. Over the years, Mona enjoyed exploring the outdoors while riding her bicycle, watching vintage cowboy movies, listening to country music, reading classic novels, bird watching, giving homes to many cats and dogs, and raising orphaned baby bunnies before releasing them back into their natural habitat. Mona's family lovingly labeled her the "collector of collections"!

She collected antiques, Case pocketknives, marbles, stamps, dishes, calendars, books, Cat's Meow figurines, and PEZ containers. Mona had a set of dishes for every season and used them daily, as well as for special family gatherings. She was a 25—year weather watcher, recording and reporting the Richmond area weather conditions for Channel 8. Friendship was a cherished part of Mona's life. Forever friends, but now deceased; Mary Wolfe, Marie Harshman and Shirley Flanagan, whom she fondly referred to as "Mrs. Flanagan". Close surviving friends include Nancy Dickerson and Melanie Razor.

Mona is survived by her children, Holly Schwab (Mike) and Blaine Craig (Debbie); three beloved grandsons, Christopher "Trooper" Craig (Rachael), Richard Craig (Jessica) and Jared Craig (Emily); two great- grandchildren, Avery Mae Craig and Blaine Thomas Craig; sister—in-law, Dorothy Craig and many "favorite" cousins, some deceased and some still living.

Mona's cremation wishes will be honored at Marshall & Erlewein Funeral Home, Dublin. Online condolences to the family can be made anytime at www.marshallanderleweinfuneralhome.com. Memorial donations can be made in Mona's name to, Hope House PO Box 1828, Richmond, IN 47375.

Hope House Richmond
P.O. Box 1828, Richmond IN 47375
Web: https://www.richmondhopehouse.org/