With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Wayne "Craig" Ridley, better known as Craig, who unexpectedly entered into eternal rest on December 14, 2022, in Oklahoma. Craig was born on June 24, 1948, and throughout his life, he was admired for his unyielding spirit, intellect, and creative talent.

Craig is survived by his daughter, Lacey Ridley (Eric) Hobson of Kalamazoo, MI, two sisters, Sandra (Bob) Hartman and Brenda (Jerry) Trantham of Nashville, Tennessee, and brother Timothy Ridley of South Haven, MI. He now joins in the heavens his father, Wayne Ridley, his mother, Dorothy (Wark) Ridley, and his son, Christopher Ridley.

A man of many talents, Craig was often described as a 'jack of all trades'. His witty, helpful, and intelligent personality will be remembered fondly by all who knew him. Craig found joy in simple pleasures like a cold Coke Cola, classic Old Westerns, tidy clothing, pool parties, and cheering for his favorite sports team, NASCAR.

An avid outdoorsman, Craig had a passion for hunting deer, squirrels, pheasants, and fishing. In his younger years, he especially loved spending time at his favorite vacation spot, the family deer camp in northern Michigan. His versatile interests also included drag car and circle track racing, building, fixing, and tinkering with anything he could get his hands on. If it was broken, he firmly believed it could be fixed, and if you want it done right, then do it yourself—a life lesson he shared with many.

Craig's accomplishments were numerous. He retired from Palisades Nuclear Power Plant, worked at DeWind Dewatering, and was a proud owner of the Dry Dock Lounge and Creative Hydraulic’s. He built and drove several race cars, including his favorite hot rod named “Jump’n Jack Flash." He also mentored his son Chris's racing journey and built several homes. In recent years, Craig had resided in Oklahoma, where he had been working diligently on building his dream log forever home on over 60 acres of land. Even while escaping the harsh Michigan winters, he continued to enjoy hunting, fishing, and the great outdoors, which included wild boar and rattlesnakes.

Cremation has taken place.  A celebration of Craig's life will be held on December 16, 2023, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Moose Lodge reception venue in South Haven, MI.

We invite you to join us in honoring  Craig's memory and celebrating the life of a truly remarkable man. His life's journey and his knowledge had a profound influence on many, and will continue to be deeply missed.

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