Ladonna Craig

Our beloved mother LaDonna Mae Craig, also lovingly known as Dude, Dee and “Granny” went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus on April 20, 2022, at age 94.

LaDonna was born to Ben and Nevada Ellis on March 29, 1928, at home on Section 30 (oil field lease) near Depew, OK. She attended Gypsy High School and played basketball. In 1944 or1945, her basketball team played in the state finals in Oklahoma City. She graduated from Gypsy High School in 1945 as Valedictorian. After high school she landed a job with American Airlines.

LaDonna had met her husband M.F. Craig Jr., during her school days in Gypsy. They were married on July 8, 1949. They began their life together in Bristow, OK, where she began setting up their household while M.F worked at various jobs usually including oil field labor. Their son Ricky was born during that time in Supulpa, OK. Later M.F. accepted a job in Borger, TX, working for Phillips Petroleum Co. After their daughter Vicki was born, the family moved from Texas to Kaw City, OK, while waiting for housing in Shilder, OK. While living in Shidler, LaDonna and M.F. enjoyed playing cards with other couples. She also loved working with children and was a Cub Scout Den Mother. As her children got older, she attended Ponca City Business School, which led to an office job at Conoco. Because of her love for the Lord the family attended First Baptist Church in Shilder.

She became a member of Sunset Baptist Church, when the family moved to Ponca City in 1970. LaDonna was very active at Sunset. With her love of singing she joined the Sunset Saints Choir and became a teacher in “Mission Friends” with her best friend Betty McClaskey. LaDonna and Betty also welcomed new comers to the area with visitations and inviting them to Sunset for church services. She enjoyed a long and fruitful friendship with her Sunday School Teacher, Charlene Frost. Throughout her entire life, she held and unwavering faith in God, and shared the love of Jesus with those she met.

One of her favorite past times was traveling and visiting family. She and M.F. traveled to Panama while their daughter Vicki and family were stationed there. They enjoyed camping while driving across the U.S., even driving all the way to Alaska! She was also known to crochet, knit and sew. She made the best chocolate pie ever. Later in life LaDonna enjoyed siting on the front porch while enjoying a hot cup of coffee and a white chocolate Ding Dong, feeding their dog Wiley his treats, and singing hymns while working around the house. Her favorite TV shows were old westerns, Charles Bronson & Clint Eastwood movies, Walker Texas Ranger, Highway to Heaven, Touched by an Angel, Huckabee, Gaither Homecoming, Robert Morris, and David Jeremiah. She loved reading the Bible, Zane Grey western novels, and health remedy books. Her favorite western cowboy singer was Gene Autry.

LaDonna joins her sister Vondera Ellis, her parents, Ben and Nevada Ellis, and her husband M.F. Craig, in Heaven. She is survived by her sister Lavon “Sis” Warren; her children Ricky (Cheryl) Craig, Vicki (Jim) Thompson; her grandchildren Jeremy, Katrina, Michael (Kenia), Leanna, Crystal, Joseph and Brandon; great grandchildren Emily (Brian), Ally, Elizabeth, Kurtis, Michael Jr., Gage, Jesus, Melinda, Sophia, Fatima, Allison, Luis, Jonni and Quetzally; great-great grandson Lincoln; and numerous loving nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 9am to 7 pm on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at Grace Memorial Funeral Home, Ponca City, OK. Her Celebration of Life will be held at the Sunset Baptist Church, Ponca City, OK on Thursday, April 28, 2022 at 2:00pm, officiated by Pastor Gary Wilburn. Internment will follow at Resthaven Cemetery in Ponca City, OK.

In lieu of flowers, we are requesting donations be made to Humanity Hospice Oklahoma.