John Bill Cruce

April 29, 1948 - December 12, 2016

John Bill was born on April 29, 1948 to John L. and Evelyn (Pippin) Cruce in Lubbock, Texas. He resided in Brownfield,Texas until he attended New Mexico Military Institute. After graduation, he pursued his dream of attending the University of Texas at Austin. On May 8, 1969, John Bill married the love of his life, Cynthia Ann Schulz in Norman, Oklahoma. Together they graduated from the University of Texas in 1971. John Bill attended Texas Tech University School of Medicine; graduating in the second graduating class in 1976. John Bill and his family moved back to his hometown of Brownfield, Texas.

After a successful career practicing Obstetrics & Gynecology, he spent his retirement substitute teaching at Brownfield High School, fishing with his grandchildren at Possum Kingdom Lake, and rooting for his beloved Longhorns. Dr. Cruce was deeply involved in the Masonic Lodge in Brownfield serving as Master and District Deputy. Dr. Cruce also participated in the Lubbock York and Scottish Rites. In 2011, he achieved his life-long goal of 33rd Degree Mason. He served as chairman of the Lubbock Scottish Rite Learning Center of Lubbock for many years.

Survivors include his wife, Cynthia Cruce; their children, John Cruce and wife, Jaime; Ann Cruce-Haag and husband, Jeff; and Martha Cruce; grandchildren, Christina, Tyler, and Bradley Cruce, Brooklynn Cruce; Samuel and Elizabeth Cruce-Roberts, Caroline and John Haag; sister-in-law, Libby Hunter, husband Kevin, and their three sons, Ben and wife Lindsay, Daniel, and Wil Hunter; niece Carol Malcolm, and other extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John L. and Evelyn Cruce, and Lera Lee Sanders.