Renee Ann York Craig was born June 17, 1943, in Berkley, CA
to Gwendolyn Delores Moore & Arthur Lee York, Sr. She was the eldest of
seven children: Renee, John, Alan, Larry, Deborah, Sarah and Paul. She will be best
remembered for so many things: Her amazing passion & talent for performing arts
including belly dancing, acting in live plays & singing. Her aptitude for writing. Her
volunteer time singing at nursing homes to entertain the residents. Her upbeat,
radiant personality, sense of humor, broad smile, infectious laugh and chameleon
beauty that made her the life of the party. Her heart of gold and Christmas parties with
large gatherings of family & friends whom she gave multiple gifts to each & every one.
Her dependability, honesty & tiny filter ~ she “kept it real” before it was a thing.
Her fascination with the Renaissance era, the authentic costumes she maintained &
shared, and her attendance at countless renaissance fairs. She was a fighter and a
winner, her battle with cancer was no different as she survived three years beyond the
six months anticipated.
Renee accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her savior. She graduated from Tracy Senior
High School and attended beauty school in Texas. She returned to California and
continued her education at Delta College in Stockton earning her Associate of Arts
Degree. She worked for over 20 years at the Stockton Unified School District
before retiring. Renee traveled as far as Thailand, Japan and India. Last but not
least, she leaves our family her lifelong legacy, her novel, “The Curse of the
Moaning Dove,” our 6-generation genealogy saga spanning from the 1800s to
present day. .
Renee made it a priority to love & raise her three children, Alana, Ardith and Bill. Renee
found love more than once during her lifetime as she was a hopeless romantic.
Her forever love, Gary Focha, a bond that would last more the
15 years. Renee loved her family and friends and they loved her even more.
Renee departed this life at the age of 79, on March 4, 2023, and she will be missed by
many. She is now reunited with her Grandmother Hattie Mildred Boykins Miller,
Grandfather Sydney Johnson, Grand-Aunt Eleanor Smith, her Mother Gwendolyn
Delores Johnson Moore and Father Arthur Lee York, Sr., her Siblings Larry Lawrence
Oliver, Mark Paul Oliver, John Jules Goudeau, Deborah Rosemound Delores Oliver
Whigham Williams and Grandson Billy Moore, Jr..
RENEE ANN YORK CRAIG leaves to cherish her loving memory her beloved children
Alana Keel of Sacramento, CA, Ardith Green-Spivey of Stockton, CA, and Bill Moore of
Denver, CO; her siblings Sarah Jones & Alan Oliver both of Tracy, CA; her Love,
Gary Focha of Stockton, CA, her three grandchildren Nicole
Williams, AngelaRenee Moore, and Curtis Williams II; her two greatgrandchildren Derionna & Willie Holloway, and a host of beloved family & friends. We
love and greatly miss our mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, cousin, companion, &
friend Renee, and we pray to meet you again in glory.