Obituary of Kathryn Jean Craig-Beaird

Kathryn Jean Craig-Beaird, 73, of Niles, passed away at her residence, surrounded by her loving family, on Sunday, September 10, 2017. She was born on May 25, 1944 in South Bend, Indiana to the late Earl and Jewel (Brown) Scanlon. She married Robert E. Craig on June 23, 1962 at a ceremony in Cassopolis and he preceded her in death in 1998. In 2000 Jean married Jerry Beaird, who passed away in 2003. Jean was a homemaker most of her life however, enjoyed working as a laundromat attendant as well as Taco Bell. Jean enjoyed playing bingo, trips to the local casinos, stock car races and a variety of crafts. Jean loved the time she spent with her family and loved being a grandmother and great-grandmother. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, a son, Dennis Craig, a sister Bonnie Wilken and a brother James Scanlon. Jean is survived by her children; Brenda (Dean) Conrad, Vickie (Larry) Mantke and Chuck Craig (Steve Harrell), her four grandchildren; Heather (Guy) Roberts, Samantha Mantke (Matt Ferguson), Stephanie (Nick) Bowker and Brandon Mantke (Ashleigh Paolasso), eight great-grandchildren, a brother, Earl Scanlon Jr., two sisters, Ruth (Steve) Smith and Kathy (Ernie) Davis, all of Niles. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at the The Old Rugged Cross Church located at 61041 Vermont Street in Niles at 1:00 p.m. with a time of visitation beginning two hours prior. Jean's interment will follow the funeral service at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions may be directed in Jean's memory to Great Lakes Hospice, 6120 Stadium Dr #100, Kalamazoo, MI 49009 or to the Old Rugged Cross Foundation at PO Box 41, Niles, Michigan 49120.