Alice G. Craighead

Alice G. Craighead, 86, of Jefferson City, died September 24, 2021, from natural causes and unrelated to the pandemic. She was born in September in Fulton to Percy C. and Nancy Christina Young Lawrence and grew up on a farm near a rural area known as Bellamy Springs. She attended Fulton High School with the graduating class of 1953. She met her husband Billy on a blind date, shortly after which they began to play music together, he on fiddle and she on piano. They eloped with another couple to Mountain Home, Arkansas in 1951. The outdoors was always energizing for her, and she took their two children on frequent adventures in the woods of Callaway County, especially in the seasons for walnut gathering and mushroom hunting. As young parents, she and Billy camped and boated in the Ozarks where her outdoor cooking skills developed. They became active members in a RV community for several years after retirement, traveling throughout the country. Her homes in Fulton and most recently in Jefferson City were surrounded by plants, especially flowering ones, that flourished under her care. While weekend nights would find her playing her music with other country musicians throughout Callaway, Audrain, Boone, Cole, Montgomery and Randolph counties, she had a public day life in Fulton as well. She worked on staff at the former Dora's Dress Shop on Fulton's Court Street, then became church secretary at First Christian Church. Later she was known as the friendly face that greeted visitors at the Fulton Sun Gazette and the Kingdom Daily News, performing duties as receptionist, publisher assistant and an informal assignment editor to news reporters and photographers who appreciated her knowledge about the area. She was an active member for several years at Central Christian Church. After retiring, her public involvement continued as she served on the board of trustees for the Callaway County Senior Citizen's Center where she played piano many Saturday nights with a local band for senior dances. Survivors include her husband, Billy of Jefferson City; daughter, Paula Craighead (spouse Michael Saucier) of Freeport, Maine; granddaughter, Jillian Saucier (spouse Christopher Ohge) of London, England; sister, Nancy LaRocco of Knoxville, Tenn.; and many nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Preceding her in death were her parents, all her in-laws and son, Kevin. A private burial with family was held at Callaway Memorial Gardens on October 5. Her photograph commemorated her 40th wedding anniversary in 1991. In her memory, donations are especially appreciated when made to her favorite charities of American Diabetic Association, St. Jude's Hospital for Children, the American Cancer Society, or locally to the State Historical Society of Missouri's Craighead Family Fund, c/o shsmo.org/donate or 605 Elm Street, Columbia MO 65201. The Fund supports the Society's music holdings where instruments and recordings associated with family members will be curated and archived.