account from my journal of what happened.
"It was Christmas Eve and Lanny, Angie, Larry, Richelle and I were gathered in our home for a Christmas Eve dinner. We were sitting in the living room visiting when Lanny received a telephone call from his brother Kim telling him that he had some bad news that Craig had passed away. Craig was only 44 years old and so nobody was prepared for this. Our jubilant celebration had quickly become a very sober and sadden affair. We were all in disbelief and shock.
As a volunteer firechief of Plymouth, Craig carried an emergency radio and pager with him and had responded to a 911 call. An elderly woman had fallen and hurt herself. Craig and others had gotten her into the ambulance and were caring for her on the way to the hospital when he collapsed from a heart attack and ultimately died.
Even though it was difficult and thoughts were not necessarily on Christmas celebration, we went ahead and celebrate Christmas the next day with the families. We had our traditional
family celebration with the reinactment of the nativity by the family. This gave us an opportunity to think about Jesus' birth and ultimate resurrection. We took comfort in knowing that Craig would enjoy these blessings, and seeing his Grandpa Carl and Grandma Nola again. He spent alot of time with them while growng up. He told me how much he loved them. He lived in their home for a while after they had passed away.
The next morning Lanny and Sandra left for the Spokane International Airport and flew from there to Salt Lake City with a layover in Boise, Idaho. They stayed for a week or so helping out wherever possible. Even under these grievous and difficult circumstances good things were experienced. Lanny was able to meet two great-grandsons, Damian Starr and Hurley Jensen, and a great-granddaughter Alegna Hunter Jensen. He visited with his grandchildren Angela, Brian, Ryan Nicole, and Zack. He also met his son-in-law Tyson Jensen and daughter-in-law Kristina Garcia.
Craig was given an exceptional funeral. Firefighters from across northern Utah gathered in Plymouth to honor "a fallen comrade." Twenty or so firetrucks with flashing lights but no sirens participated in the funeral procession. At the gravesite a flag was folded by the honor guard and presented to Craig's wife Barbara, and a helmet to his mother. Lanny described to me how the song, "Amazing Grace" (one of my favorite songs) was played in a progressive type ceremony fading into the distance. It stirred a lot of emotion in one's soul.
Part of Craig's Eulogy: "Craig C Starr, 44, passed away Thursday, December 24, 2009, doing what he loved, serving others. He was born Feb 4, 1965 to Lanny H and Berneice Faye Pingel Starr in Tremonton, Utah.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara; children: Angela (Tyson) Jensen, Brian (Kristina) Starr, Ryan Starr, Zachary Starr; three grandchildren: Hunter, Hurley and Damian; his mother and stepfather: Berneice and Art Peabody; his father and stepmother, Lanny and Arlene Starr; ten half brothers and sisters; Richelle, Stefanie, Angie, Gary, Wendy, James, Jason, Jeff, Justin and Darren. Three step brothers, Troy, Danny and Bill and one stepsister, Alice. He is preceded in death by his grandparents."
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| Craig C Starr |
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| Craig C Starr 2009 |
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| Brian in background, Damian-Brian's son, and Lanny |
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| honor guards folding flag (Barbara under the umbrella) |
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| Zack, Ryan, Lanny, Angela and Brian |
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| firetruck procession |
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| Memorial Wall |
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| Hurley Jensen (he was only a baby at the funeral) |
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| Grandpa Carl, Craig and Grandma Nola Starr |
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| Brian, Barbara, Craig, Angela, Ryan Nicole, and Zack |
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| Brian, Zack and Lanny |
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| Seth, Liddell, Cumorah and Lucy Giles at Craig's tombstone taken while on vacation in Utah |
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