Craig Seamon

CRAIG CRANDALL SEAMON Born 27 February 1953 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, to Marjorie and Clifton Seamon, two ex-Marine sergeants. Marjorie was at the time an accountant for an auto dealership and Cliff an embalmer at a funeral home. Named Craig Crandall Seamon, in keeping with the “CCS” initials Mom had used with the two older siblings (Clifton Cleveland III and Claudia Claisse). Cute as a button child. From a young age he insisted that he had been adopted, but this notion lost its plausibility as Craig grew to mirror his dad's handsome face--chin dimple and all. He had a natural fascination with animals of all kinds. Kept lizards in the end table drawers in the living room and mud puppies in the bathtub as a kid. There was a white mouse named Rufus, at least one cat, and many beloved dogs. 

As he got older, there would be encounters and then stories about wild horses, giant owls, squirrels, all manner of fsh, prairie dogs, raccoons, quail, pheasant, bobcats, deer, coyotes. His young life was spent in Farmington, NM, although he graduated from Littleton High School in Littleton, Colorado, when our parents moved there his senior year. Ten years of roughnecking on natural gas rigs in and around Farmington following high school, which he eventually gave up after too many injuries and the probability of more. It was a fnancial cut but led the way to a love of trees and plants, and a creative talent in landscape design. First job with San Juan Nurseries (thanks to Debbie and Donnie), and, in time, his own company, La Plata Mountain Landscaping. Dug more aspens than your arms want to think about, and combined them with enormous boulders in stunning kiva fre and conversation pits. His interests remained in the wild: camping, fshing, and hunting (much like his dad). Wild turkeys in the Jicarilla were a special yearly event. Craig was a master at spotting and tracking wildlife, knowing where to look near the treeline for animals most people would never know were there. He was also a crack shot, and once won a Mountain Man shooting competition over his friend Ernie, although he was nearly disqualifed for not dressing the part (fringe, etc) . Craig developed a wide group of friends throughout his life, beginning with the core from Farmington, then Littleton and Durango, and extending to many clients turned friends from La Plata Mountain Landscaping. Gave everyone nicknames (“Chet” was never known as Dave again), and likewise insisted that the youngest of the Lovato clan call him “El Presidente”. He could be hilariously funny, and kept Mom guessing whether what he said was true or not. Always frmly opinionated, he said, regarding tuna casserole, “I'd rather eat poop”. 

Craig was often kind and often generous, giving because he thought it was the right thing to do. He made school lunches for kids who didn't have any. Perhaps his greatest pride and pleasure was his house in Flora Vista (“his castle and his sanctuary,” per Scott), where he created a haven of trees and fowers. It was his refuge from the world, which had not always been kind to him . 

This is where he kept his collections of marbles, guns, turkey beards, Rolling Stones albums (bluesy music his third love, following animals and plants), posters, and all manner of paraphernalia, concert tickets, and photo albums (we all coveted this documentation of friends and family through the years). Craig died June 11, 2024, in Albuquerque, from heart and other complications. He was not one to go to doctors. He was 71. His brother Cleve and wife Patty Seamon, sister Claudia Baragiola, and friend Andy Lovato were privileged to be with him those last days. His was a tender heart covered in gruff. 

A potluck memorial has been planned by his friends for August 3rd, 5pm, Holiday Farms #69, Road 5117, Bloomfeld NM 87413.