Craig was a passionate teacher and excellent artist. He was devoted for many years to MOBOC, or Mobile Open Classrooms, of Santa Monica, CA, where he taught and mentored students. He extended enormous respect to young people and encouraged them to make agreements in order to work cooperatively. He loved poetry, literature, and jazz--"Take Five" by Dave Brubeck was his favorite. He was an outstanding baseball player.

He was born in Walla Walla, WA, and attended Walla Walla High School, and later, South Salem High School. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 1965. He served in the US Coast Guard. Craig was an accomplished writer and poet. He loved young people--he listened to them, shared with them, and accepted them as they were.

He was formerly married to Sally Lew of Venice, CA.

He is survived by his daughter, Mandy Smith, who resides in Manhattan Beach, California, and by two brothers, Robert McEwen of Salem and Ralph McEwen of Albany.

Funeral services will take place Monday, January 9th, 4:00 PM in Albany at AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home, 805 Ellsworth St. SW (541) 926-5541, www.aasum-dufour.com .

If you would like, you may send a donation to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in support of research to honor Craig's memory and as a tribute to his valiant fight against MS. This is the link to make a contribution online - http://www.nationalmssociety.org/donate/index.aspx .