Bret Wallace "MeisBret" Craven, 24 of Lexington Park, MD, a loving son, caring friend, and high spirited soul, died unexpectedly on Monday, April 30, 2012. Born on July 14, 1987, in Jacksonville, FL, he was the son of Victor Dudley Craven of Jacksonville, FL and Kathleen Lynn Bellinger of Hollywood, MD.

Bret graduated from Leonardtown High School in May 2006. He attended the Forest Career and Technology Center. He competed in and won first place in SKILLS USA, Telecommunications event in 2006, for the State of Maryland. This led him to the National SKILLS competition in Kansas City, MO where he placed third in the nation. He began his professional career with Chesapeake PC Source in Leonardtown, MD. From there he moved to the Spalding Group, a military contractor; and then to his current position in Information Technology with General Dynamics in Lexington Park, MD. He was well liked and respected throughout the Information Technology field.

Bret served as a mentor for the Forrest Center's IT Program. He volunteered at the Historic Sotterly Plantation providing over 1,500 volunteer technical support hours each year. He recently joined the NewTowne Players as a stage hand, providing technical support and using his "handyman" building skills. Bret was a self-made man who marched to the beat of his own drum. If you were lucky he would bring you along for the ride. His zest for life took him on many adventures. He lived his life OUTLOUD, never meeting a stranger and always ready to lend a hand to anyone who needed it.

In addition to his parents, Brett is also survived by his step-father, Merle Bellinger of Hollywood, MD; brothers, Clifton Craven (Valerie) of Jacksonville, FL and William Joseph "Bill" Parks of Detroit, MI; maternal grandparents, Ferrel and Frances Shoe; paternal grandmother, Jewell Williams; nieces and nephews, Will Parks and Allie Parks of Detroit, MI; aunts, Annette, Diana and Connie; uncles, Marty, Donnie, Darryl and Carl; great-uncles and aunts, Bill and Carolyn Willhoite and Bob and Jeanie Willhoite; step-brothers, Jeremy Bellinger (Allison) and Aaron Bellinger (Ashley); step-nieces, Adelai Bellinger and Emma Bellinger; step-grandparents, Ed and Lois Bellinger and Todd and Betty McCoy; step-aunt, Paula Gee and many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

Family will receive friends for Bret's Life Celebration on Friday, May 4, 2012 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. with shared memories at 6:30 p.m. at the Brinsfield Funeral Home, 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD.

Memorial contributions may be made to Sotterley Foundation, Inc., Attention: Arleen Strider, P.O. Box 67, Hollywood, MD 20636.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.