Charles D. Cruce

Services for Charles D. Cruce will be held Friday, March 6, 2015 at 2:00 PM at the First Baptist Church in Okemah. Committal services will follow at the Highland Cemetery in Okemah with U.S. Army Honors. After a lengthy illness, Charles left this earth on February 27, 2015 on his 78th birthday surrounded by his children. Charles was born February 27, 1937 to R.D. “Bill” Cruce and Kathleen (Witham) Cruce. Charles was born and raised in Okemah, Oklahoma. He had a passion for sports and people. In 1956, he married his high school sweetheart, Carma (Leeper) Cruce. Charles attended Oklahoma State University and East Central University on football scholarships. He obtained a BS in Education and moved to Okmulgee to teach and coach at the High School. In 1972, he returned to Ada, Oklahoma to receive a Master’s in Education and become Offensive Coordinator for the ECU Tiger football team. His love for Okmulgee, once again, brought him back to become Athletic Director for the Bulldogs. However, Charles was not finished coaching so he also coached several seasons and then later became the transportation director for the school district. Charles was inducted into the Oklahoma Schools Association Hall of Fame as an Athletic Director and later he was inducted in the Hall of Fame as a coach. Not only did he have a passion for working with young people; he also loved his country. Charles served in the Army National Guard and Army Reserve for over 28 years before retiring with full honors. In 1990, Charles retired on Lake Eufaula. He loved to boat, fish and spend time with his family. He loved life and never met a stranger. He will truly be missed by everyone who knew him. He is preceded in death by his loving wife, Carma; his parents, Bill and Kathleen Cruce; siblings, Robert Cruce, Ruthann Benychek and Gerald Cruce. Survivors include his children, Dana Ravert and husband Derek of Spring Hill, Kansas and Jason Cruce and wife Sheryr of Claremore, Oklahoma; five grandchildren, Kaley Ray and husband Greg of Okmulgee, Arielle Thompson and husband Seth of Okmulgee, Betsy Bailey of Norman, Lacey Swift of Claremore and Derek Swift of Tulsa; six great-grandchildren, Alexa, Lyla, Everly, Blaize, Luke and Jaxon; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation and viewing will be Thursday, March 5, 2015 from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at the Parks Brothers Funeral Home, Okemah. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the Okemah High School Class of 1956 and his ECU Tiger teammates. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Jim Lucas Checotah Library 626 W. Gentry Ave. Checotah, OK 74426 Services will be under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Home, Okemah and officiated by Dr. Layoid Woodson.

Charles D. Cruce

February 27, 1937 - February 27, 2015