Kyle Layman “Buddy” Cruze went home to be with Jesus Saturday, March 10, 2018. He was 84. He graduated from East High School in 1952 where he excelled in athletics, setting many school and state records. He went on to the University of Tennessee where he graduated in Civil Engineering in 1956 and was also named a First Team All-American in football. Buddy’s favorite past time was coaching and following his kids and grandkids in youth sports. Anyone who was ever coached, mentored, or simply encountered Buddy was made to feel valued, cared for and special. He loved many people and many people loved him. He was successful in business as well, founding a computer software business in 1978 that still operates today. He is preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Charlotte Ketchersid Cruze; his parents, Carl Layman and Edith Dykes Cruze; and sister, Bobbie Cruze Wilson. He is survived by his sister, Cartha Lynn (Cruze) Turner and brother-in-law Gaylon Eugene Wilson. Additionally, by his four children and spouses, Debbye Cruze Wright (Blair), Kyle Buddy Cruze (Helen), Guille Barger Cruze (Carol), Kay Cruze Smith (Randy), all of Knoxville, TN. His fourteen grandchildren, Ben and Natalie Wright, both of Knoxville, Katie Wright Trenda (Dan), Buffalo, NY, Kyle Cruze Jr. (Kristen), and Winston Cruze (Rachel), both of Nashville, TN, Charlotte Cruze Foster (Chris), Knoxville, TN, Matthew Cruze (Sarah), Huntsville, AL, Meggie Cruze Staykov (Stayko), Nashville, TN, Kelsey Cruze Reese (Josh), Knoxville, TN, Rachel Cruze, Nashville, TN, Andrew Smith (Caroline), Knoxville, TN, Ellen Smith, Chattanooga, TN, Brady and Jason Smith, Knoxville, TN; great-grandchildren, Jack, Will, Audrey and Luke Trenda, Eli, Jude and Addison Cruze, Amelia and Caroline Cruze, Svea, Evelyn and Mary Helen Foster, Carter, Nathan and Lilly Cruze; Henry, Vivi and Oliver Staykov and Hank Smith. Call of Convenience will be Wednesday, March 14, 2018 from 12:00 pm until 6:00 pm at Berry Funeral Home, 3704 Chapman Highway. A graveside service will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery at 11:30 am on Thursday, March 15, 2018. The family will have a Celebration of Life with a receiving of friends to follow on Thursday, March 15, 2018 at 6:00 pm at Fellowship Church, 8000 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Young Life of Knoxville, www.knoxville.younglife.org; Deeper Still, www.godeeperstill.org; or S.T.A.R., www.rideatstar.org. Condolences may be offered at www.berryfuneralhome.com.
