Gene L. Cressy

Gene Leroy Cressy, age 79, of Murdo, S.D., died on Monday, Jan. 30, 2017, at the Golden Living Center in Pierre.

 

Gene Leroy Cressy was born Oct. 15, 1937. He was the third born child of Everett and Lola (Pierce) Cressy. He attended school at the Cressy School in the Kolls School District for his first eight years then attended Murdo High School and graduated in 1955. In the fall of 1954, during his senior year, he was pound-for- pound the toughest defensive lineman Murdo High School ever saw. 

 

During the summers he worked for the railroad between VanMetre and Philip. He attended Dakota Wesleyan University to play football for two years.

On June 8, 1960, he was united in marriage to a cute little cheerleader named Carol Jean Horsley. Upon return from their honeymoon they received an overdraft from the bank, short on money, but with plenty of love for each other.

 

To this marriage were born three children, Patricia and Gene, who were born in Hawaii while Gene served in the Navy, and later Kathy, who was born after they returned to Murdo.

 

Gene served in the U.S. Navy from August 1961 to August 1965. He worked at Murdo Oil for 20 years with his good friend, Howard Peters. During this time, he played basketball for the Dry Creek Dribblers, a local town team. He spent many nights fixing truck tires until the early morning hours only to do it all over again the next day. He then worked for Horsley Farms and Horsley Insurance Agency until he retired. Gene served on the board of directors for Missouri Valley Insurance Agency for 25 years. He continued to go to Draper daily to care for his farm kitty.

 

Survivors include his wife, Carol, of Murdo; three children, Patricia “Patty” Cressy of Pierre, Gene (Gayanne) Cressy, Jr. of Summerset, and Kathy (Lonnie) Roth of Faribault, Minn.; six grandchildren, Kyle (Melissa) Roth of Fairbault, Khrystyne Dummer of Sioux Falls, Jarrod (Cindy) Roth of Rockwell City, Iowa, Ashley (Richard) White of San Antonio, Texas, Kayla (Xavier) Christmas of Westminster, Colo., and Brenna Roth of Fairbault; five great-grandchildren, Neveah, Jesse, Jenni, Avyona and Jackie; a sister, Janice (Ray) Pike of Draper; a brother, Mike Cressy of Pawhuska, Okla.; his miniature Schnauzer, Mali; a special friend of the family, Janet Penticoff; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.

 

Gene was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Dale, and his wife, Betty Cressy; a father, and mother-in-law, Max and Bertha Horsley; a sister-in-law, Bonnie Cressy; a sister-in-law, Colleen Anna and her husband, Bob; a brother-in-law, Robert “Bob” Tenant; a niece, Susie Rankin; and a nephew, Monte Horsley.

 

Memorial services were held Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Methodist Church in Murdo with Pastor Rick Hazen officiating.

 

Music was provided by Karen Royer, pianist, Luke Dowling and Kyle Roth, vocalists. Ushers were Tracy Dowling, Tryston Horsley and Heath Bryan. Register book attendants were Patti Greenseth and Karen Dowling. Honorary pallbearers were the former Dry Creek Dribblers.

 

Interment will be at a later date at the Murdo Cemetery.

 

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to the Jones County Ambulance Service. Cards and memorials may be sent to P.O. Box 487, Murdo, SD 57559.

 

Arrangements are with the Rush Funeral Home of Philip.

 

His online guestbook is available at www.rushfuneralhome. com.