Craig Ryan

   Craig Ryan, long time resident of McCall, Idaho went to be with Jesus on April 10, 2024 at the age of 64. Craig was born to Charles and Pearl Ryan on August 6, 1959 in Granite City, Illinois. Craig was born with an extra chromosome that medically was called Down’s Syndrome but his family and all who knew him just called it extra special. Craig was love and kindness and an example of what we should all strive to be. He was a gift and was loved so deeply. His birth was a changepoint in the life of the Ryan family. It was then that God became the center of the family’s lives. Craig’s life held purpose that began at birth. His disability did not interfere with that purpose, instead it was a major part of it.

   Craig attended a special education school in Edwardsville, IL until moving to McCall at the age of 13. Upon arriving in McCall he continued in Special Education classes and also quickly became involved in the Special Olympics program. He was extremely proud of his over 50 medals competing in cross country skiing, biking, swimming and gymnastics. A highlight of his life was meeting “Marsha Brady”, his biggest crush, at a Special Olympics event in Salt Lake City.

   Craig attended WITco in Caldwell, ID in 1980 and was trained to work in janitorial services. McCall Drug hired him immediately and he began a 40 year career meeting many people and making many friends as he kept the store vacuumed and dusted. He loved having a few dollars in his wallet and was always willing to buy if he could get someone to take him out for a burger. When the drug store closed he was transferred to Albertsons until 2020 when his health began to decline.

   Family was the center of Craig’s life. He loved his many nieces and nephews. The older ones were peers and friends to him and the younger ones were his “kids”. He loved his brothers and sisters deeply and was a constant helper and companion to his mom, especially after his dad, Charles, passed. He loved Elvis and never believed that he had died. He also was obsessed with the Planet of the Apes movies, The Man from Atlantis, and The Hulk. Craig was always involved in the McCall Nazarene church and served as a greeter and an usher for many years. He loved Jesus purely and deeply.

   Communication was always Craig’s greatest struggle but somehow everyone who knew him understood love. We delight in knowing he is whole and struggles no more with his speech. We can only imagine the talking going on today in Heaven!

   Craig is survived by his mother, Pearl Ryan, McCall, ID; brothers Mike (Stella) Ryan and Steve (Sylvia) Ryan of McCall, brother Chuck (Robin) Ryan of Homedale, ID; brother David (Judy) Ryan of McMinnville, OR; sister Brenda (Tarek) Fawaz of Trinity, FL and brother Marc (Karen) Stringer of Nampa, ID.  Craig also leaves behind many nieces and nephews whom he loved as much as they adored him. He was preceded in death by his dad, Charles Ryan in 1990 and his sister Debbie Ryan Campbell in 2015.

   The family would like to thank St. Luke’s Hospice and the McCall Care Center for their love, care, and kindness to Craig this past year. The family requests that if Craig touched your life and you would like to make a donation in his memory, please make it to the McCall Care Center. That would mean so much to us.

   A viewing will be held on Sunday evening April 14 from 4-6 pm at Heikkila Funeral Chapel in McCall. Services will be held at McCall Nazarene Church Monday, April 15 at 1:00. All are welcome to join us in celebrating the life of our good man.

     Online condolences may be left at www.mccallfunerals.com

     Arrangements in care of McCall Funeral Home.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Craig Ryan, please visit our floral store.