Craig Scott McCune

Craig Scott McCune was born August 31, 1937, to Elsie Marion Noble and Clarence Scott McCune, the youngest of 5 children. Throughout his life he credited his mother and her side of the family for bringing a focus on education and spirituality to the family and his father’s happy temperament for creating such a harmonious and lovely family dynamic at home. He grew up in Salt Lake City, UT and graduated from East High School. He then studied at the University of Utah and served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the British Isles from 1958–1960. Craig received his medical degree from George Washington University in 1967. He completed his internship and residency in Salt Lake City, during which time he met and married his wife, Lorna Phillips, in 1968. Craig served in the U.S. Army as a physician stationed in Thailand from 1969-1971 (with Lorna). During their stay in Asia, he taught seminary and then served as a district president for the church. Craig worked at the University of Rochester for 19 years teaching in the medical school, caring for cancer patients, writing grants, and conducting research in immunology from 1975-1992. Craig and his colleague developed one of the first successful vaccines for kidney cancer. Craig served on national advisory boards and was invited to present about his work internationally–though he would never have mentioned this due to his humility. He referred to himself as a scientist and a physician and found the research process deeply rewarding. However, he chose to step away from that high pressure environment to devote more time to being with and supporting his family. The family moved to Missoula, MT which allowed for more time connecting with Craig’s treasured extended family in UT, ID, CA, OR, and WA. Craig was a kind, gentle, and funny husband, father, and grandpa. He felt that finding and marrying Lorna was the greatest blessing in his life. He enjoyed spending time with his family, reading comics on Sunday afternoons, building models, going on picnics, seeing plays, going for walks or drives in beautiful places, and playing games. Craig was deeply appreciative of being part of a church with a lay clergy and felt honored and stretched to serve in a variety of roles. He appreciated the connections he made with fellow church members as he served as a bishop (Rochester, NY and Gunlock, UT), stake patriarch, Area Medical Advisor for church missionaries across Russia, and Sunday School teacher, but one of his favorite callings was teaching children in ‘Primary.’ Craig loved being in nature—hiking, camping, fishing, skiing, cycling, or just sitting outdoors and taking in the sunshine and birdsong. The summer after he graduated high school, Craig worked at Grand Canyon NP and always looked back on that time with great fondness. Over the years, he planned many family trips to National Parks and loved to visit the historic lodges. While living in upstate New York, Craig planned regular family trips like canoe camping in the Adirondacks and an annual rustic cabin rental on Squam Lake in NH. After moving to Missoula, MT, Craig applied himself to learning new activities and places, including horsemanship, building fences, flyfishing, and discovering quiet corners in Glacier National Park and other nearby wilderness areas. Craig helped each member of our family develop a fondness for being in nature. We felt enriched by the peace and tranquility we encountered in these precious places. We all cherish beautiful memories of the places we experienced because he found them on a map or in a book and created a family trip or memory with us there. He also shared his love of learning about birds and other creatures. We all still stop when we hear a loon call across a lake or run outside when we hear the Canada geese flying overhead. Craig’s other loves included performing and listening to music, gardening, studying theology, birding, serving in his church and community, reading great literature, and enjoying films with Lorna in the evenings. He remained reverent and curious about the body to the very end. In his final decades, Craig enjoyed reading biographies of great thinkers, studying religious and atheist texts, and considering what barriers others faced in developing more faith. In his final months and days, one of his greatest pleasures was working on a small book/treatise entitled, “Thoughtful Souls Facing Religious Questions.” He was delighted to learn that we could share a link here for anyone who might enjoy reading it. Commenting has been enabled if you wish to add to the dialogue. (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KgwRFW7QjeFTyGSfivyW8fgq1-zuFFbp7a2HFuSUbck/edit?tab=t.0) - Craig will be remembered for: - being a warm and thoughtful conversationalist - making others feel seen and cared about - his sweet and charming sense of humor - his ability to say rather controversial things in a loving and innocuous manner - his deep love for and commitment to his large and beloved family of origin - the ways his trust in and love for God shaped his words, actions, and values to the end - being someone with whom his patients, family, and friends could navigate the complexities of facing potentially terminal illnesses and the end of life. - helping individuals and families he got to know personally, volunteering through the church and community organizations such as “Bellingham at Home.” - the way he slowly but steadily developed beautiful gardens over the years at each home – we will think of him when we see lupines and smilingly remember him carefully swiping and transplanting native Old Man Sage in southern Utah. Craig was diagnosed with a terminal lung disease in February 2025. He repeatedly shared with his family and friends that he felt so privileged to have had the life experiences he was blessed with. He consistently shared how much he looked forward to reuniting with his loved ones and regularly shared his readiness for the "next great adventure." He kept teasing Lorna throughout the past year after about racing her to see who could “push off for the next life” first. Craig was preceded in death by his parents, all four siblings, and their spouses: Marion Hansen (Keith), Keith Noble McCune (MaryLou), Elaine Grace McCune Castleton (Bob), and Dora Jean Merrill (Keith). He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lorna Phillips McCune; their three children Scott, Erin, and Shannon; and their four grandchildren Aurora, Rowen, Eve, and Theo. A celebration of life will be held on August 15 in Bellingham, WA. Please contact Shannon McCune at shannonupnorth@gmail.com for details if you would like to attend.

Craig Scott McCune

August 31, 1937 - May 28, 2026