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L. J. (Loma) Cruce, age 79 of Pine Bluff, departed this life Sunday, April 19, 2015 at St. Vincent’s Hospice in Little Rock. He was born September 6, 1935 in Drew County, AR to the late Clyde and Marguerite Berryman Cruce. He spent his early years growing up in Monticello and many will remember L. J. as an employee of Wilmar Grocery Co., where he worked for many years prior to moving to Pine Bluff.
He was a retired firefighter from the Pine Bluff Fire Department where he was employed for 28 years and was a member of East Side Baptist Church in Pine Bluff. L. J.’s hobbies were fishing, hunting and fixing anything that was broken or could be repurposed. He was a member of Saline Hunting Club for many years where he loved riding 4 wheelers. However, his greatest love was spending time with his family. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Annette Wiscaver Cruce and a daughter, Sherri Kaye Cruce.
Survivors include one daughter, Terri Lynne Cruce Strawn of Pine Bluff; one grandson, Josh Strawn and wife Amy of Redfield; a great-granddaughter, Mia, also of Redfield; a great-grandson, Ryan Anthony of El Paso, TX; a brother, Jimmy Cruce and wife Laurie of Oregon; a niece, Patsy O’Connor, a nephew, Dennis Jamison both of Manchester, TN. He also leaves behind many friends and relatives in the Wilmar, Green Hill and New Hope area, as well as Pine Bluff, all of whom he treasured.
Funeral service will be 2:00 pm Thursday at Stephenson-Dearman Chapel by Rev. Jonathan Wiscaver and Rev. Josh Dutton. Burial in the Wilmar Cemetery. Visitation 12:00-2:00 pm Thursday prior to service. Memorials may be made to: East Side Baptist Church, 1605 Wisconsin St., Pine Bluff, AR 71601 or Friends of the Redfield Animals, c/o Amy Strawn, 310 Dogwood Rd., Redfield, AR 72132. Online guestbook www.stephensondearman.com.
He was a retired firefighter from the Pine Bluff Fire Department where he was employed for 28 years and was a member of East Side Baptist Church in Pine Bluff. L. J.’s hobbies were fishing, hunting and fixing anything that was broken or could be repurposed. He was a member of Saline Hunting Club for many years where he loved riding 4 wheelers. However, his greatest love was spending time with his family. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Annette Wiscaver Cruce and a daughter, Sherri Kaye Cruce.
Survivors include one daughter, Terri Lynne Cruce Strawn of Pine Bluff; one grandson, Josh Strawn and wife Amy of Redfield; a great-granddaughter, Mia, also of Redfield; a great-grandson, Ryan Anthony of El Paso, TX; a brother, Jimmy Cruce and wife Laurie of Oregon; a niece, Patsy O’Connor, a nephew, Dennis Jamison both of Manchester, TN. He also leaves behind many friends and relatives in the Wilmar, Green Hill and New Hope area, as well as Pine Bluff, all of whom he treasured.
Funeral service will be 2:00 pm Thursday at Stephenson-Dearman Chapel by Rev. Jonathan Wiscaver and Rev. Josh Dutton. Burial in the Wilmar Cemetery. Visitation 12:00-2:00 pm Thursday prior to service. Memorials may be made to: East Side Baptist Church, 1605 Wisconsin St., Pine Bluff, AR 71601 or Friends of the Redfield Animals, c/o Amy Strawn, 310 Dogwood Rd., Redfield, AR 72132. Online guestbook www.stephensondearman.com.