Craig Reed LeSueur was born September 11, 1960, the seventh son and ninth child of Waldo Y. and Louise Barton LeSueur.  He joined their large and loving family in Mesa, Arizona, a place where the LeSueurs have a history of faith and service.

He was adored and cared for by his parents, siblings, and extended family members. His life was a reflection of that era: family gatherings, Little League baseball, paper routes, and spending as much time as possible outdoors with his brothers and friends.

He grew up with an unshaken faith in God and in the goodness of people.  Craig never met anyone he didn't want to get to know better, and it was not uncommon for him to make new friends while standing in line at the store or the movies or while attending his children's activities. Later in life, his sons recognized that he was always "spot on" with relationship advice.

Throughout his school years, he enjoyed playing sports, especially baseball and basketball.  His love of baseball brought him many new friends, experiences, and ultimately memories with his family as he helped coach his sons, umpire games with all three of them, and cheer on the Texas Rangers at the Ballpark in Arlington.

From 1979-1981, he served as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Indiana Indianapolis Mission.  This was a defining event in his life.  For the first time, he was truly inspired to read and study, and this habit persisted, enabling him to succeed in college and in his career. He also treasured the relationships that grew out of that brief but incredibly important period of service: people he taught, companions he served with, and ultimately, his eternal companion.

After his mission, he attended Mesa Community College and Brigham Young University.  He began writing to another Indiana missionary named Nadra Dabbagh at the insistence of her trainer,  Pam Aguilar. They continued to correspond during the 18 months she was on her mission, sharing their hopes and plans for the future.  Nadra knew he was one in a million.  Upon her return in April 1983, they met at BYU and were engaged in record time.

Craig and Nadra were married in the Mesa, Arizona temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on August 25, 1983.  They returned to Provo so Nadra could complete her degree there.  Following her graduation, they relocated to Mesa, Arizona, so he could continue his studies at Arizona State University while she worked as a regulatory scientist.

Craig earned his degree in Management Information Systems in 1986 and was hired by GTE to work at their headquarters in San Angelo, TX. Shortly after graduation,  they welcomed their first son, Reed, and the growing family moved from Arizona, away from family and friends, to the Lone Star State that would become their new home.

They added 4 children to the family over the next few years: Elise, Ryan, Nolan, and Leila. Life was good, and their days were filled with work, church activity, and raising their children. Craig was a "hands-on" dad who was always there to support his kids, whether it meant coaching a team, watching games and practices, or just having one-on-one time with them.

Because they were far from their families in Arizona and California, Craig and Nadra made many family road trips to visit their relatives.  Heritage and family history, two values espoused by LeSueur family members everywhere, were of great importance to him, and he treasured the family records that his mother Louise had carefully preserved, along with histories of their ancestors, particularly the stories of those who had been pioneers and missionaries in the church.

In 1997, Craig's job was transferred to Dallas, Texas, where he continued his 25-year career with GTE, which eventually changed its name to Verizon. He made the all-important decision to settle the family in Flower Mound, a decision that continues to bless our family with its ripple effects. In 2011, Craig had a chance to relocate with Verizon to the East Coast, but opted to stay in the Lone Star State.  Subsequently, he was hired by CoServ Electric, where he made many new friends and enjoyed the opportunity to learn new skills.  The family continued to grow with the addition of Scott and Diana, the wonderful spouses of Elise and  Reed, and, eventually, four beautiful grandchildren.

In 2017, Craig suffered a significant head injury, and shortly thereafter started having memory problems.  He was unable to continue working at CoServ and began seeking treatment for what was the beginning of his disease process.  Along with Nadra, he embarked on a short-lived career in education, working as an aid in classes at Flower Mound High's 9th-grade campus while she tried her hand at teaching.  During the pandemic, they spent many hours cycling around the trails and streets of Flower Mound when school was interrupted, and social distancing made gatherings impossible.  Being with Nadra was the thing he loved the most, no matter what the circumstances, and he valued her and their marriage above all else.

Craig was blessed with incredible support as his dementia progressed.  In addition to help from family, church, and friends, he was invited to join the Oasis, an Alzheimer's Ministry program provided by generous volunteers at First Baptist Church of Lewisville.  These Christlike people welcomed him and provided respite for Nadra each week over a period of three years. They also facilitated a caregiver's support program and provided monthly take-home meals and endless resources as the family attempted to navigate the ever-changing landscape of Craig's disease.

As time passed, he gradually lost his ability to speak.  For someone as outgoing and friendly as Craig, this was quite a blow, but he remained positive and threw his efforts into gym workouts, speech therapy, and Temple attendance. Nadra took him on daily walks in the nearby park, where he was always happy to run into neighbors and friends.  Even in the most challenging moments, he gave joy to those around him, just as he had been inspired and motivated by the students he had worked with who had disabilities and learning challenges. One of the most memorable family experiences he had during this period was a trip to Scotland in June 2024 for the wedding of Ryan to Andrea Bates.
And, after going to hundreds of baseball games over the years, in October of 2023, Craig traveled to Arizona with his son Reed to see the Texas Rangers get the final out and beat the  Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 5 to win their first World Series title.

Craig's final months and days were marked with frustration, pain, and growing agitation with his physical challenges.  We missed his smile and easygoing personality.  He was ready to move on and resume his service to God in a different capacity.  To those he left behind, he gave a priceless example of commitment, kindness, and love. We will miss him and remember him with gratitude every day.

Live stream for the service: https://www.youtube.com/live/-vlmqIXtoeE?si=uURvdhrmHOIoqiFW