On the evening of Dec. 8, 2014, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, Craig Carney of Post Falls walked through the valley of the shadow and, because he was closely embraced by his Savior, he entered safely and peacefully into the kingdom of his Heavenly Father.

Craig was born in Cottonwood (Smelter City), Ariz. on Jan. 23, 1944, to Norman and Nellita (Wright) Whisman. He resided in Phoenix during most of his younger years, traveling frequently to the Verde Valley to spend valuable time in the presence of his cherished aunts, uncles, and extended family whom he credited with straightening out his wild youth and giving him the building blocks of a wise and loving Christian upbringing.

Craig attended Mingus Union High School in Jerome, Ariz., and joined the United States Navy in 1963. He was honorably discharged after proudly serving for nine years, stationed in Rota, Spain and on the U.S.S. Constellation in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam conflict.

For most of the last 35 years, Craig was a truck driver - both local and long-haul - and was extremely appreciative of and meticulous in maintaining the massive trucks he drove, with a particular preference for Kenworths and Peterbilts. He was very skilled at what he did - whether hauling cars, swinging meat, logs, heavy equipment, groceries or grain in ice, snow, rain or fog, driving darkened mountain roads or long, hot desert highways. He retired in early 2014 shortly before being diagnosed with esophageal cancer in April of this year. Cows from the east to the west will mourn his passing, no longer to be greeted by the cheerful blast of his airhorn.

Craig married his devoted wife, Sandy, in 1987, and for the next 27 years they built a strong, happy, and God-focused life together weathering many storms, tests, and trials which only served to strengthen their love and commitment to one another. For the last 19 years they have resided together in Post Falls (Sandy's hometown) where he helped care for Sandy's grandfather, mother, and father before their passing as tenderly as if they had been his own.

Craig dearly loved his children and family, his countless pets, silversmithing, woodworking, the Seattle Mariners, Gonzaga Bulldogs, Phoenix Suns, Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks, a pipeful of good, aromatic tobacco, muscle cars from the 50s - especially Chevys - watching good westerns and war movies, reading good mysteries, and keeping abreast of politics. Most of all, Craig enjoyed cooking mouth-watering meals (especially Mexican food) for a houseful of family and friends that made you go back for thirds (if not more).

He survived a lot of perils over his 70 years - a serious auto accident when he was a young child, encounters with psychotic weirdos in truckstops and on the highways of America, robberies and thefts, falls and injuries, tachycardia, a bleeding ulcer and a burst appendix, finally succumbing to esophageal cancer which by the miraculous grace of God, was almost completely painless. He also saved a few lives along the way - some Navy men from drowning in an ocean riptide and a man from choking in a truck stop - but he never bragged or even talked about these incidents much. However, he tried to share the Gospel every chance he got in deeds, speech and conduct. The world has lost a very good man.

Craig was preceded in death by his beloved mother, Nell, in 2012; his precious granddaughter, Heather, just 5 days before his passing; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and in-laws, pups, cats and critters. Oh what a grand family reunion they are all experiencing!

Craig is survived by his wife Sandy; his four children: Carla, Craig, David (Mindy), and Carrie (Brian); his brother Mark (Ann), sister Sheree; sister and brother-in-law Carla and Leo; six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and brothers and sisters in the Lord, and his rescue cat, Axl.

Two memorials will be held at a later date when the weather is nicer ... one for Idaho friends and family at Falls Park after the gates are open, and one for Arizona friends and family in Cottonwood, on Mingus Mountain.