Roy Howard Cruzen

Roy Howard Cruzen was born January 10, 1938 in Cleveland, Oklahoma. He was the son of Earl Thomas and Stella Isabelle Cruzen. Roy was raised and attended school in Cleveland, graduating from Cleveland High School in 1956.

While attending high school, Roy began a career in the bread business, stocking local grocery stores prior to going to school each morning. Upon completion of his education, Roy worked as a roughneck in the oilfields of Osage and Pawnee Counties and then as a rural bread carrier and salesman, working for Rainbow Bread in the Tulsa area. Roy enlisted in the United States Army in March of 1957 and served two years before being honorably discharged in May of 1959.

During his time in the service, Roy was married to Joy Ann Gable on August 22, 1958. The couple had two daughters, Leslie Dianne and LaDonna Elizabeth. They resided in Tulsa after Roy's release from active duty as he returned to the bread business working for Rainbow. After the couple's divorce in 1964, Ray worked for numerous bread companies including Holsum, Pepperidge Farm, Little Debbie and Wonder Bread. He was married to Mary Jane Brown on December 3, 1965 and they had one son, Craig Thomas. Roy and Mary Jane divorced in 1977.

Roy continued to work in the bread business all of his career. He also worked as a bus driver for the Owasso Public Schools in the 1980's for several years and returned to driving the bus a few years ago. He also ran a route for the Mission Tortilla Company for a couple of years.

Roy was an avid sports fan, especially the University of Oklahoma Sooners. He coached little league basketball, baseball and football in Owasso for many years. He was a member of the Teamster Union, Local 523, and a member of the American Legion Mohawk Post #308.

He was married to Rhonda Buchanan on February 14, 2002 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The couple has made their home in Tulsa for the past three years.

Roy passed away on Thursday, March 24, 2005 at the St. John Medical Center at the age of sixty-seven years, two months and fourteen days. He was preceded in death both parents, four sisters, Norma Mae, Maxine Cruzen, Erma Nadene Williams and Versal Allen; and four brothers, Robert Earl, Murrel T. , Harold Rex and Carl Ray Cruzen.

Roy is survived by his wife, Rhonda Cruzen of the home; three step-children, Heather Buchanan, Robyn Buchanan and Haley Buchanan all of Tulsa, Oklahoma; son, Craig Thomas Cruzen of Keller, Texas; two daughters, Leslie Dianne Millwee and LaDonna Elizabeth Cruzen, both of Spring, Texas; four grandchildren, and a brother, Donald Eugene Cruzen of Cleveland, Oklahoma.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Tuesday, March 29, 2005 at the Chapel of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home with Pastor Chip Reynolds officiating. Burial will be at the Woodland Cemetery under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home.

Visit an online obituary and guestbook for Roy H. Cruzen at www.chapman-black.com.