Nancy Margaret Craig

Nancy Margaret Craig, 87, of Topeka, passed away Friday, May 31, 2024, at the Kelly House of Meriden after spending the day surrounded by loved ones.  

She was born April 18, 1937, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Alan Craig and Frances (Claypool) Craig.  Her family moved to Houston, Texas at a young age. She graduated from San Jacinto High School in Houston, TX, and attended the University of Houston.   

She married David P. Dunphy and began their family in Houston.  They later divorced. The family was transferred by David’s employer, Fleming Foods to Topeka in June, 1966 two days after the June 8th tornado.  

Nancy earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Washburn University and received a master’s degree from the University of Kansas. 

Nancy worked in various teaching positions including time as an elementary school teacher in the Seaman school district. Her last employer was the Kansas Children’s Service League. 

She practiced Sahaja Yoga, traveling to gatherings all over the U.S. for many years and was a devotee of Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi. She was very spiritual, saw the divine in all things and embraced the philosophies of many different religions and ways of enlightenment.   

Nancy was devoted to sustainability and preservation of the planet and donated to those causes throughout her later life. She loved her vintage home on the edge of Potwin and found great joy in creating gardens with a beautiful palette of flowers of local varieties from which she would collect and arrange bouquets to share with others. She also was a voracious reader and had her mother’s talent of sewing.  Nancy had very eclectic musical tastes and listened to everything from bluegrass to classical music.   

Survivors include her children, David Dunphy (Madhuri) of Tamarac, FL, Diane Larsen (Scott) of Berryton, KS, and Mark Dunphy of Topeka, KS; siblings, Susan McCarty of Dallas, TX, Allan Craig of Austin, TX, and Janet Carpenter of Sugar Land, TX; 4 granddaughters; 3 great-grandsons; and 3 great-granddaughters. 

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, JoAnn Hogan. 

The family will receive friends from 12:00-2:00pm, Thursday, June 6, with a funeral service following at 2:00pm at Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home. Private interment will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Berryton, KS. 

The family would like to send a special thanks to the wonderful staff at Kelly House of Meriden and Elara Caring. 

Memorial contributions are suggested in lieu of flowers to The Land Institute and Topeka Community Cat Fix, sent in care of Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6th Ave. Topeka, KS 66603.