Steven Craig Livengood, Jr.
On Sunday, August 17, 2014, at eleven o’clock in the evening, after a brave battle with colon cancer, Craig peacefully passed away at Levine & Dickson Hospice House in Huntersville, North Carolina. He was surrounded in loving kindness by his family and dearest friends. Craig was 46 years young.
Craig was born on Sunday, October 15, 1967, at 10:25 in the evening in Warner Robbins, Georgia, to Gale Talbert and Steven Craig Livengood, Sr. In 1986, he graduated from East Mecklenburg High School and joined the United States Navy where he faithfully served in the Reserves. He attended Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, NC. In 1997, Craig became employed at Carolina Cutlery and worked closely with George and Joe Povinelli as Regional Manager over the Carolinas.
Earliest memories of Craig foretold the man he would become. He was a loving, gentle little boy who overflowed with affection and kindness. He walked at nine months, proving even then his determination and enthusiasm for life. Neal Dewan, Craig’s closest childhood friend, remembers Craig showing up at his front door to go for a walk for the first time in the summer of 1982. The two of them walked every day that summer -- to the pool, to the Hop-In, to friends’ houses and back. As a young man Craig was always up for a walk, run, hike, bike ride or skiing on the snowy slopes of the North Carolina mountains. Over the years that followed, Craig walked, ran and cycled in many races and events. Two of his greatest passions were mobility and adventure.
Craig adored the outdoors and always kept his backpack ready for a camping trip. He was readily prepared for whatever weather might come. His friends recalled times when they had not slept all night due to inclement weather and Craig was snuggly tucked away in his tent sleeping like a rock. It never failed that he awakened prepared to greet the morning with bright eyes and a smiling face.
His first pet was a puppy he named “Peacock.” His love for dogs and other animals was innate and brought him great joy throughout his life, especially the rescue animals he so generously took into his home. Most recently, their names were Riley and Casey, both of whom came from families no longer able to care for them and Craig, of course, stepped in to love them as if they had been with him always.
Craig never ceased to amaze family, friends and colleagues. During his battle with cancer, he continued to greet each day with a love of life that no one who knew him had witnessed before. He never once complained. He never once lamented, but was faithful and steadfast in all that he did. He continued to ski, camp, run competitively, travel and spread his love throughout the world.
Even on the day of his confirmation at Olivet Moravian Church on April 12, 1981, Craig demonstrated the kind of determination he became known for throughout his all-too-short life by standing before the assembled body, swollen beyond recognition from a severe case of poison ivy. He was, even then, a living testament to the very confirmation verse that commemorated the day:
James 1:12: “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
Throughout his life, Craig lived as the Lord commanded:
Matthew 22:37-39: “Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your mind. This is the greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
All who knew Craig could see the light that shone within him. He was a beacon in the darkness and radiated joy, peace and love to those who were privileged enough to know him. He will be sorely missed.
Craig was preceded in death by his great grandmothers Nora Mae Alspaugh Dull and Jewel Swink; his great grandfathers George Isom Swink and Carl Arey Dull, Sr.; his grandmother Edna Carolyn Dull Talbert; grandfathers Russell Lowell Talbert and Ellis Monroe Livengood; and his stepfather Harry Joseph Ratermann.
Craig is survived by his wife Lori Buinicky Livengood; his mother Gale Talbert Ratermann; his father Steven Craig Livengood, Sr.; his grandmother Louise Swink Livengood; his brother Jeffery Sean Livengood and his daughters Grace and Hannah; his sister Gale Livengood Croft and husband Patrick Croft and their sons, Thomas, William, Ethan and John; father-in-law Robert Joseph Buinicky; mother-in-law Sally Jane LaPointe; brothers-in-law Robert Joseph Buinicky; Michael Paul Buinicky and his children, Tiffani and Joshua; Anthony Jay Buinicky and wife Charity Buinicky and their sons, AJ and Christian; sister-in-law Nicole Hudak; his best friend Bryan Perkins and his wife Jennifer Haase Perkins and their sons, Zachary, Dylan, and Elijah; his sweet dog Casey Beatrice Livengood, and many uncles, aunts and cousins, colleagues and friends.
Special thanks to George, Joe and Heidi Povinelli for your steadfast support and love throughout the past eighteen years; to Dr. Ward Woodard and his team for your wonderful care and support from diagnosis to hospice care; to Dr. Henry Fleishman and team for your excellent surgical care; to Carolina Medical Center-University nurses, support and staff for your extraordinary care during Craig’s surgeries and final hospitalization and to the loving and devoted staff at Levine & Dickson Hospice House in Huntersville for the loving care given in his final days. Craig is grateful to you all.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Carolinas HealthCare Foundation, Colon & GI Cancers Fund: givecarolinas.org; Levine & Dickson Hospice House – Huntersville: donatehospice.org; and The Humane Society of Charlotte: humanesocietyofcharlotte.org.

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