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Cruce Community Cemetery
Stephens County, Oklahoma

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As recorded by Wanda Slaughter and Deborah Cavel-Greant, Brenda McClure and John-Isaac Greant, July, 1982, all descendents of Henry and Mollie Clark, who are buried in this cemetery.

This survey begins in the NE corner, but the term 'row' is used in its broadest possible context. In some places the soil is far too shallow to hold a grave. Probably due to the rocky nature of the site the graves seem to have been placed with an almost total disregard for order. Some lie between other rows or staggered above or below them. It's a small cemetery though and anyone searching for a particular grave can walk its entirety in five or 6 minutes.

Contains a single unmarked stone - no other graves apparent

Contains a single grave marked by a flat unmarked stone which has fallen over

Contains a single unmarked grave which has been planted with irises

• Large stone inscribed: 'Shelly, Homer Morse son of J and H Shelly, June 13, 1889 - Feb 4, 1920' - and - 'Mother Hattie Shelly June 17, 1878 to June 25, 1923' 'Goodbye Mother's Brother and Little Sister. Prepare to meet us in heaven.'
• Beside the large stone above are two stones over infant's graves.
• unmarked Granite slab
• Grave marked by metal funeral home marker and stake.

• Stone inscribed: 'At Rest, Gincy W. Charleston died Feb 27, 1915 aged 26 years'
• Stone which has fallen over inscribed: 'S.M. Charleston Jr. May 31, 1921 - March 1, 1922 Darling We Miss You'
• Grave surrounded by fence of rebar with home-made stone inscribed: 'Clifford E. Griffith June 3, 1921 - July 26, 1922
• Unmarked grave planted in irises

• Grave marked by slab of rock, no inscription, planted with irises
• Three rocks marking small children's graves
• Stone inscribed: 'Infant son of WE and Minnie Williams, born and died July 19, 1902'
• Stone inscribed: 'Gilbert, son of WE and Minnie Williams, born May 31, 1903'
• Fallen stone inscribed: WE Williams born Feb 18, 1850 died October 2, 1904 He was a kind and loving husband and a devoted Christian and a friend to all.'
• Rock on grave
• Rock on grave
• Unmarked grave
• Unmarked grave
• Marker with two dates - only one of which is readable - 'Feb 27, 1925'

Unmarked grave

Unmarked grave

Stone inscribed: 'Infant son of Frank and Margie Harmeyer born and died October 26, 1903, 'A little time on earth he spent, then God for him His angel sent'

Stone inscribed: 'Wilburn, son of Frank and Margie Harmeyer born March 8, 1910, died April 10, 1911, Sleep on sweet babe and take thy rest, God called thee home, he thought it best'

Area where irises are very thick, may contain graves but is impossible to say how many

Stone inscribed with the Masonic symbol and: 'WG Morse August 24, 1835 - September 22, 1921. Thou art gone our precious father. We will find like you no more' and 'FS, wife of WG born feb 24, 1860 died April 10 1909, A precious one for us has gone, a voice we loved is stilled, a place is vacant in our home which never can be filled. God in his wisdom has recalled the boon His love has given and though the body molders the soul is safe in heaven'

Unmarked grave

Unmarked grave

Unmarked grave

Unmarked grave

A single sandstone marker marks this row of tiny graves, perhaps as many as ten or twelve.

Staggered all over are a number of unmarked graves - just depressions in the earth.

• Unmarked with flowers planted over grave
• Unmarked with flowers planted over grave
• Unmarked with flowers planted over grave
• Stone inscribed: 'Orville son of Mr and Mrs MA Wright, born Nov 3, 1911 died Nov 7, 1912 'Gone to a bright home where grief cannot come'
• Fenced area containing Stone inscribed: 'Henry Clark September 7, 1860 - January 13, 1935' - and - Molly Clark, July 8, 1871 - May 26, 1921'
• Just outside this enclosure are 2 small graves close together marked with rocks
• Grave marked with a rock
• Grave marked with a rock
• Grave marked with a rock
• Several further unmarked graves

 

 

This cemetery once served the tiny village of Cruce, which was destroyed by a tornado in the late 20's. The first recorded burial, according to inscriptions on gravestones, was 1903. The last burial occurred in 1935.  This cemetery is reached by taking old Highway No 7 east out of Duncan.  Turn onto Lake Duncan Road. Turn right onto Plato Road, proceed 9/10ths of a mile, crossing two bridges. Road veers left, there is a gate on the right. The cemetery is ½ mile off the road through the gate. There is no passable road, you must park your car off the side of the road and walk in.  This cemetery is on private land and when we were there last (in 1982) the farmer was allowing cattle to graze over it. It is not fenced or maintained. It lies in a stand of live oak trees in a hollow, and is practically covered in irises. The man who owns the land said he didn't realize there was a cemetery there, though it's hard to miss the larger stones. But he was gracious and accompanied us to the gravesites. He said now that he knew it was there he'd fence the cattle out.

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