Craig James Fairclough

April 8, 1948 - February 25, 2026

Craig James Fairclough, age 77, passed away from a heart attack on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.

Born April 8, 1948, in Salt Lake City to Albert Fairclough and Mabel Holt, Craig was a man of immense kindness and unwavering faith.

A 1966 graduate of Skyline High School, Craig served a devoted mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Toronto, Canada. Upon his return, he earned a marketing degree from the University of Utah, where he met the love of his life, Marjan Thorup. They were sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple on August 25, 1972.

Though he spent 18 years with Colgate-Palmolive, Craig's spirit was truly entrepreneurial. He found his professional calling in self-employment, spearheading ventures such as Dimension Marketing & Sales, Grandma's Country Foods, WheyMilk USA, and Water Pure Technologies. Beyond his work, Craig was a "gentle giant"-physically strong yet remarkably tender.

Craig's life was a masterclass in kindness. A man who truly loved all people, he was unfailingly considerate to everyone he met. He found great joy in the simple things: a hearty laugh, a well-played prank, and the quiet satisfaction of serving others. To Craig, no service project was too small, and no opportunity to help someone in need was ever overlooked.

As a true disciple of Jesus Christ, Craig held an unbreakable testimony of his Savior and faithfully fulfilled every church calling he received. He found profound meaning in his recent service at the Jordan River Temple and the Glendale Branch halfway house. Craig lived by the promise of 1 Corinthians 2:9: 'Eye hath not seen nor ear heard... the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.'

With a contagious smile and a gift for lifting burdens, Craig chose to see the light in everyone. He was without malice, quick to forgive, and held an unyielding optimism that left others feeling uplifted in his presence. His legacy of love and service will undoubtedly continue to bless us from the other side of the veil.

Craig's life centered around his family. He loved his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Family was his greatest joy, and he created wonderful memories through family activities, Bear Lake trips, and holiday gatherings. He will be sorely missed.

Craig was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Gerald Fairclough. He is survived by his brother Dennis (Marilyn) Fairclough, his wife Marjan Thorup Fairclough, and his children: Marlene (Tony) Riggs, Kelly (Paxton) Guymon, Mindy (Dan) Demarchi, Dane Fairclough, Laura (Douglas) Hansen, Mark (Morgan) Fairclough, Kara (Jacob) Richey, 26 grandchildren (and their loving spouses), and 11 great-grandchildren.

A viewing in honor of Craig will be held on Friday, March 6, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Jenkins-Soffe South Valley Mortuary, 1007 W. South Jordan Parkway, South Jordan, Utah 84095. A viewing will also be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 12:45 pm at the LDS Chapel at 11251 South 2700 West, South Jordan, Utah 84095, with the funeral service to begin thereafter at 1:00 pm at that same location.

For online condolences and to view the service online, please visit www.jenkins-soffe.com.

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Published by Deseret News from Feb. 27 to Feb. 28, 2026