Vincent Craig, famed Navajo artist, musician, humorist, poet and creator of the boarding-school survivor and comic strip hero, Muttonman, has died.

New Mexico's urban and reservation Indians have long known about the legendary entertainer. Fans of the popular Sunday-afternoon KUNM-FM radio show, Singing Wire, know Craig through his humorous telling of the story of Rita and the candy bar, a twisting tale that shows how love can lead a poor boy astray. For Rita, the hero steals the crazy candy bar and ends up, without her, sitting in the Window Rock jail. It's just one of Craig's many songs, but for whatever reason, "Rita" crossed cultures and audiences to find fans.

Craig, who would have turned 60 on June 6, died after a long battle with cancer Saturday night in a Scottsdale, Ariz., hospital, his family surrounding him.

Despite the severity of his cancer, Craig remained optimistic, telling the Navajo Times earlier this year he hoped to be back performing in April, and that he was planning new recordings and writing an audio book about a Vietnam veteran.

Those plans were not to be. Instead, the former Marine and son of Navajo Code Talker Robert Craig remained in his hospital bed, taking pleasure in the visits of his children and grandchildren, especially when they played music for him.

Because of the drawn-out nature of his illness, neither Craig nor his wife of 35 years, Mariddie, could work during the months before his death. The family's finances are devastated — but his fans and friends are banding together to help, collecting donations at Wells Fargo Bank and through a benefit concert May 26 in Phoenix. Information about both is available on Craig's Facebook and MySpace pages.

It's instructive of how beloved Vincent Craig is that friends from all cultures and backgrounds are coming together so quickly to support his family. He is so cherished that his Thursday visitation will last seven hours.

Craig has departed from this world. His legacy — a love for family, humor, kindness and a good song — stays with us. If you are one of the unlucky ones who never saw Craig during one of his many New Mexico stops — perhaps singing at Native Roots and Rhythms during Indian Market — take the time to watch a Vincent Craig video on YouTube. By the end, you'll be smiling.

During his lifetime, Vincent Craig left a lot of people smiling.