Grampy, it's hard to believe the day has actually come that you leave us.  I will miss all of your stories about the history of the world and the advice you gave me like making sure I got a good career that I would be able to support myself with. I will never forget how much you believed in me and how proud you were to see me graduate from college. 

You always kept the family laughing from telling your "fibs" to raving about how wonderful the Wendy's senior menu was. I'll never forget going fishing with you and Jay when we were little and asking if we were "ost most there". And when we caught no fish, you would make up those fibs to tell everyone that we caught so many fish but gave them to the poor people on our way home. Eventually I would tell you "I'm not telling lies for you anymore!" However lying would always be part of your humor, especially when you would read your birthday cards and change all of the words to anything along the lines of "the most amazing, handsome man in the world!" 

The past year and a half wasn't easy not having you living at home, but I will always miss you "woahing" at everyone when we came to visit you at the nursing home. You fought long and hard as any true Portuguese man would, and not a day went by that you didn't show your strength. I am happier now knowing you are not suffering and can enjoy being free. Wherever you may be, I hope you are soaking up the sunshine and singing along to Johnny Cash. I can't wait until the day I see you again, hear you call me "granddaughter", and give me the biggest hug. I love you, Grampy. Rest in peace ❤

My dad was a kind and honest man.  He had a lot of sayings, two wrongs don't make a right, lie down with dogs and you get fleas, and one I heard often when I was a rebellious teenager - don't let the door hit you on the way out.  He loved his family with all his heart and would give the shirt off his back for his friends.  He was also a stubborn man.  He always wanted everything to be his way.  He was always right even if he was wrong.   The best time of his life was when he became a grandfather.   He would do everything with his grandchildren.  He took them to McDonalds and Friendly's and bike riding and he took them fishing.  He loved fishing!  When they got home with no fish he would tell them to say they caught a lot and gave them away to the poor people.  He would made up such stories about their fishing trips but they always ended up saying Grampy was lying.   When we gave him cards for birthdays or holidays he used to read them out loud and make-up all the words saying how wonderful he was.  

He loved gardening.  He always had vegetables planted in the backyard.  He loved Wendy's.  He would go get the senior meal and say for $2.15 you get a cheeseburger, fries and a drink and it's good.  you never knew where you would find him.  If we were at Walmart's or Target we would say Is that Grampy?  He would say - yeah I'm just walking around.  And everywhere he went he always found someone who knew him!  Even in the hospital people would walk by and say OMG is that Jack - I know him  from fishing at Cedar Beach.  The woman that cleaned the room used to live next door to his Dad in Portugal when she was a young girl.  My cousin Linda was at a Portuguese restaurant and mentioned she was Jack Cruz's niece to the owner and he said Omg this is Jack Cruz's niece to the rest of his family and they all came over and told her stories of how they knew him

After his stroke he was wheelchair bound and couldn't talk.  It was hard for him and he didn't like being confined to the Veteran's Home.  He would have to sit in front of the nurses desk because he couldn't be trusted to be alone - he was always trying to escape.  He didn't want to participate in therapy and refused to take his meds.  Whenever someone tried to get him to do something he would say Whoa, Whoa, Whoa.  But through all that when I walked him around the halls or we sat outside there were always aides and nurses passing by waving at him and saying Hi Jack or Hi Mr. Cruz, you look so handsome today and he would smile and wave.  So I think he had the Bad Boy appeal.  I guess that's how my mom stayed married to him for 60 years!

So I think this is what he wanted.  He didn't take his meds or participate in therapy because he wanted it to be his way.  I know he's happy now - fishing and listening to Johnny Cash in heaven and watching over us!

Jack, Mom and I extend our heartfelt sympathy to you and your family.    Remember that your Dad is not gone.......just gone ahead.

Uncle Jack, I'll never forget all the stories my mom told me about when she was a little girl and how wonderful you treated her. And I'll never forget how you were always there for her in her last years. You truly were a great brother for all of her life. Rest in peace my godfather. I smile knowing you and mom are reunited. Love you xo

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Jack D. Cruz

6 septembre 1933 – 3 novembre 2015

O.B. Davis Funeral Homes

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