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IN THE COMPANY OF THE CRAIGS fathers had both singled them out as favorites. Both had married and been committed to exceptionally intelligent, hard-working Scots of sound character who failed to meet their wives’ families’ criteria for bringing social standing or money to the marriage. Tragically, the common thread holding the two women’s friendship together came full circle when Colin Campbell died unexpectedly of a heart attack on May 11, 1923, leaving both women widows. Mary Craig, holding the hand of the couple’s youngest child Audrey, was the only one outside of the immediate family to walk with Mrs. Campbell, who led the funeral procession of friends and staff to the family burial site on the ranch. There, on the bl ffs o erloo in the acific and marked by the tall Celtic granite
cross carved with ancient and legendary life symbols that the Campbells had brought from Scotland to mark the grave of their infant son, Ian, the Colonel was laid to rest. They were eventually moved by the family to Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, D.C., though today the Celtic cross, as well as the house and barn, remain valued landmarks. Mary Craig, who had received the emotional support of the Campbells following Osborne’s death, would now, not only help her newly widowed friend through the diffic lt onths ahead b t be i en herself the reat ote of confidence b rs Ca bell to finall brin to completion the house that had long been in everyone’s thoughts.79 For Mary Craig, the Campbell anch ho se had artic lar si nifi-
The main house of the Campbell ranch, designed by Mary Craig. Collection Santa
Barbara Historical Museum, Gift of Joan Churchill.