Obituary of Craig “Cliff Skioff” SMALL

Craig “Cliff Skioff” SMALL

January 9, 1954 – March 1, 2026

It is with deep love and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Craig William Small, who died peacefully just before sunrise on March 1, 2026, on a quiet Mexican beach, with the sound of the Pacific Ocean rolling in beside him. In true old-school fashion, Craig passed unplugged and away from the hospital — humble, at home in his own bed, and surrounded only by his immediate family as they ushered him into his next journey: his beloved wife, Sandra; daughter, Heather; son, Richie, and grandson Dylan.

In a moment that feels both heartbreaking and poetic, Craig passed within the same hour his son Richie was born in 1984 — a full-circle return marked by the same stretch of time that first brought new life into the world.

Craig was born on January 9, 1954, in Edmonton, Alberta. Known to many by his alias ‘Cliff Skioff,’ he built a life rooted in the mountains and community of Fernie, British Columbia. He was a man who valued the simple things — skiing fresh lines, cheering on his hometown hockey team, listening to good music, building what needed building, and above all, being present for the people he loved.

A proud husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, and loyal friend, Craig carried a quiet humor and a deep, steady love for his family and community. He will be remembered not just for what he did, but for how he lived — with grit, warmth, and an unshakable connection to the mountain life he loved.

Skiing was never just a pastime for Craig. It was part of his spirit. Even as the years caught up to him, he never truly slowed down — choosing instead to keep going, carving his way through life with the same stubborn joy that defined him.

Craig suffered a tragic brain injury following a late-night fall, from which he was unable to recover. In his final two weeks, he was cared for entirely by his family, who remained by his side day and night, surrounding him with the same love he had always given so freely. In the days that followed his passing, his family brought him home to British Columbia, where he belongs.

There’s a saying about not going out quietly — about sliding into the end battered and worn, saying “what a ride.” Craig lived exactly that way.

He is survived by his loving wife, Sandra; children, Heather (Shane), and Richie; grandchildren: Dylan, D’Angelo, Lucy, and Evelyn; numerous nieces and nephews; great-grand children; sisters: Wendy (Gil) Debbie (David), and Lori, along with a wide circle of family and friends who will carry his memory forward.

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