Have you ever met a man who could diagnose a misfire in a 1969 Chevelle just by the vibration of the steering wheel, yet possess a heart so tender he could calm a grieving family in a crowded ER with a single, steady look? Is it possible for one pair of hands to be both tough enough to loosen a rusted bolt yet gentle enough to hold a fragile life in the balance? For those of us that were lucky enough to know and love Craig, the answer is a resounding YES! He was a rare soul who proved that grit and grace are not opposite, but two sides of the same coin.

In his younger years, Craig was a poet of the piston, a master mechanic, who understood the soul of a muscle car and the language of a well-tuned engine. But as his journey shifted gears, he found a higher calling at TMC, in the Emergency Department. Craig didn't just work there; he belonged there. He became the "fixer" for the broken-hearted, the mentally unstable, and the physically weary, treating the hospital not as a workplace, but a sanctuary – a home away from home, where he remained, by his own wish, until his very last breath.

To Craig, life was a puzzle, and he viewed his family and friends as the essential, hand-crafted pieces that made the picture complete. He didn't just love; he built a foundation of sincerity and honesty that everyone around him could stand on.

We envision him now, arriving at the ultimate destination, where the horizon is an endless open road and the light never fades. Imagine the Heavens above, where the great engines of eternity run in perfect harmony. We see Craig there, leaning on the side of a rumbling hot rod with his arms folded and with that half-sided grin that was a comfort to many. Now, in a place where nothing ever breaks and every part fits perfectly. He has completed his final shift and as we all lined the hallways of TMC, even though it's unspoken, we are thankful that he is leaving us with a blueprint of what it truly means to be a great man.

Craig leaves behind his cherished wife, Cindy; three daughters and their spouses, Amanda and Matt Morris, Kelly and Josh Verret, Courtney and Cregg Moore; and son, Mason Jennings.

He also leaves five grandchildren: Kasyn and Levi Morris, Carter and Camden Moore, and Clover Jennings, for whom they will forever love and miss their "Grumps."

He is also survived by his brother, Brian Pate and his wife Susan; sister, DeeDee and her husband, MGY/SGT Retired Dennis Gossett; brother-in-law Christopher K. Overby, PFC Veteran and his wife Dawn; and brother-in-law Robert Overby.

Loved ones greeting him on February 10, 2026 are his mom, Nancy Pate; dad, Edward Pate, USAF Retired; and brother, James Pate.

Celebration of Life services are pending at this time.