Craig Willard Mailloux

Craig Willard Mailloux, 76, of Alexander, NC passed from this world on Saturday January 7, 2023, after a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease. His partner, Bonnie was at his side during his peaceful passing. Craig was a kind and gentle person with a true zest for life. He enjoyed gardening, building and creating, reading, music of all kinds, nature, and the art of cooking. He was a lover of life and was always up to something even when his health limited him. He inspired many people over the course of his lifetime with his vast wisdom and witty humor. One of Craig’s biggest joys in life was his native plant nursery, Elk Mountain Nursery. The concept began humbly when his young daughter suggested that Craig sell plants at the tailgate market in the 1990s, and it grew to become a thriving business selling native plants through mail-order and in-person markets. The plant community of Asheville always knew to look for Craig at regional plant sales and he garnered much respect for his vast horticultural knowledge. Craig was born on December 28, 1946, in Hollywood, Florida to Inger Johanna Madsen and Willard Cyprin Mailloux. He spent much of his childhood exploring the everglades on airboats, learning mechanical skills in his father’s car repair shop, and even constructed his own sailboat by hand. After high school, he enrolled in the United States Army and utilized his technical skills in Korea. In 1981, Craig and his then wife, Pat, moved to Asheville, NC, where they had their daughter, Megan. He worked for many years as a repair technician at Advanced Business Equipment in Asheville and maintained his nursery business on the side. For the last 23 years of his life, Craig lived with his loving partner, Bonnie Siegel. They planted beautiful gardens together, traveled to New Hampshire over the summers, and built a special home and community in Alexander, NC. Craig will be deeply missed and is survived by his partner Bonnie Siegel, his daughter Megan Foy (Kevin), and grandchildren Ellie and Coleman. He is also survived by his sisters, Carla Reif (Warren) and Sonja Mott (Robert). In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider planting something in Craig’s memory that brings you joy. He believed that the world is always better with more plants. An open house celebration of his life will be held on January 22, 2023 from 1-3 pm at the Weaverville Community Center in Weaverville, NC.

Tributes

Craig Willard Mailloux

December 28, 1946 - January 7, 2023