Craig Craven, a distinguished curator, scholar, and lifelong advocate for the arts, passed away peacefully on May 7, 2025. He was born at 5:00 AM on July 13, 1940, at home in Huggins Township of Gentry County, Missouri, in the Northwest Hemisphere of Earth in the solar system in the spiral arm of the Milky Way Galaxy. He was the only child of Donald and Doris (Earixson) Craven.

Craig's passion for the arts and education was evident from a young age. He attended David School on Route 169 in Gentry County and graduated from Albany High School. He continued his academic journey at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, where he was a member of the Alpha Rho Gama Fraternity.

His professional career began at the University of Kansas Museum of Art, marking the start of a lifelong dedication to the study and preservation of art. He pursued advanced studies at L'Institute Royale de Patrimoine et de L'Artistique in Brussels, Belgium and further specialized in paper conservation at the J.P. Morgan Library in New York City.

Craig served for a decade as Curator at the William Rockhill Nelson Gallery in Kansas City, where he was known for his visionary installation designs. His expertise led him to The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, where he designed the reinstallation of the new museum. He also made a lasting impact as a founding director of the Albrecht Gallery in St. Joseph, Missouri, and a designer of the new Spencer Art Museum in Lawrence, Kansas and designed exhibitions in Montreal, St. Louis, New York, and Toledo.

A passionate supporter of modern architecture, Craig was a supporter of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, and a member of the Henry van de Velda Society in Brussels. His contributions to the arts community were characterized by intellectual rigor, creativity, and an unwavering belief in the power of beauty and design.

One of Craigs most cherished memories was singing in the chorus at the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont with Conductor Pablo Casals, the renowned Spanish cellist and composer. Craig loved all music, especially early polyphonic music.

Among his many passions, Craig had a special place in his heart for animals. For several years, he raised Rhodesian Ridgeback and Lhasa Apso dogs, devoting his time and energy to their care and well-being.

Craig is survived by four godchildren. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Old Brick Cemetery or American Cancer Society in care of the Roberson-Polley Chapel, 403 N. Hundley, Albany, MO 64402.