July 29, 1958 – Jan. 12, 2014

JONESVILLE — Services for Stephen McKay Cruse, 55, of Harrisonburg, who died Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, in Alexandria, will be 2 p.m. today at Liberty Worship Center with the Rev. Paul Dailey and the Rev. Earl Isonhood officiating.

Burial will follow in Pine Gove Cemetery, in Jena, under the direction of Young’s Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time today at the church.

Mr. Cruse was born July 29, 1958, the son Lamar Bruce and Bobbie Rae McKay Cruse.

He graduated from Tarleton State University in Stephensville, Texas, in 1980. He was employed by USDA-NRCS as assistant state conservationist for programs. He was a member and former president of the Catahoula Cattlemen’s Association, Louisiana Cattlemen’s Association, NRA, DU, and SWCS.

He was a member of New Quachita Baptist Church, and was a staunch family man who loved rodeo and equine activites.

Mr. Cruse was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife of 26 and half years, Andrea Meyers Cruse; two daughters, Stephanie Marie Cruse and Mattie Rae Cruse; two sisters, Marcy Davis and husband, Lee, of Burleson, Texas and Tammie Heafner and husband, Manny, of Shreveport; two brother-in-laws, E. C. “Sonny” Meyers and wife, Rose, and John Meyers of Harrisonburg; three aunts, Bonnie Oliphant and husband, Robert, Madge Allbritton, and Wanda Ringle and husband, Milton; and a number of nephews and nieces.

Pallbearers will be Chance Birkicht, Cody Chandler, Jason Hardie, Matt Posey, Ray Fannin, Gary Evans, James White, Richard Dickey, Ray Faulk, Denva McKeithen, Roy Nelson, Kenny Crawford, Kevin Norton and Jack Haller.

Honorary pallbearers will be Vernon Prudhomme Jr., Sam Mason, Huey Meyers, Les Enright, Russell Wright, Robert Box, Robin Brown, Britt Paul, Dale Fannin, John Wayne Allbritton, Ronnie Lynn Cole, Joe Bond, George Evans, James Dickens, Steve Gleason, Wendel Birkicht, Richard Netterville, Billy Moore and Marlin Jordan.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Wild Horse Ministries, 460 Appleby Road Trout, LA 71371.

Mr. Cruse always supported this ministry because it involved the horses he loved and reached a population that might not attend traditional church.